Internal bleeding occurs due to damage to blood vessels inside your body. This often happens because of a traumatic accident. Internal bleeding can be hard to recognize at first. However, it can cause dangerous complications if not treated right away.
Internal bleeding can occur in any part of the body, including the abdomen, head and joints. According to Healthline, the symptoms of internal bleeding can vary based on where it occurs.
Abdomen
There are several large blood vessels in the abdomen that, if damaged, can cause serious internal bleeding. Common symptoms of bleeding in the abdomen include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The loss of blood can cause you to become dizzy. You may pass urine that appears bloody or dark, tarry stools due to partially congealed blood. You may also notice bruising along the sides of your abdomen or around the navel.
Head
Bleeding inside your head can cause a headache that is sudden and severe or result in a loss of consciousness. When blood collects inside your skull, it can put pressure on neural tissue. As a result, you may experience neurological defects, such as numbness or tingling on one side of your body, loss of coordination or changes in hearing or vision.
Joints
Bleeding into the joint may expose it to bacteria from other areas of the body that could cause infection, known as a septic joint. Swift treatment may be able to prevent infection. Internal bleeding into a joint may cause a decreased range of motion because of swelling or pain. The pain and swelling may also be present even if the range of motion remains intact.