Tag Archives: bleeding

Five Weird Pregnancy Symptoms

There are a number of weird, though perfectly normal, side effects to pregnancy that no one tells you about.  You might get all or none of these, and it could vary from one of your pregnancies to another. 1. Bloody Gums.  Early in the second trimester I began noticing a bit more blood than normal when I flossed.  I went to my routine dentist appointment, and the hygienist confirmed that yup, that’s just something that can happen when you’re pregnant.  Chalk this one down to hormones; they’re making your gums (and other parts) more inflamed than usual.  Pregnant women are … Continue reading →

What are Bleeding Disorders?

Blood clotting (also known as coagulation) is how the body controls bleeding — it changes blood from a liquid to a solid. Proteins in the blood work together to stop bleeding. But if a person is missing or lacking in certain proteins, they may have a bleeding disorder. The term “bleeding disorder” covers a wide range of problems that all have one result: poor clotting and prolonged bleeding. Your doctor may refer to a bleeding disorder as coagulopathy, abnormal bleeding, or clotting disorder. Other things can cause bleeding disorders besides clotting protein deficiency: Defects in the blood vessels Abnormalities in … Continue reading →

Preventing Colors from Bleeding

Recently, I was astonished to hear my friend’s simply laundry technique. She throws everything in her washing machine at once, regardless of color, and does it all together. I admit that this technique is tempting, since you can just do laundry as soon as needed and not have a pile up. The washer can be filled to the brim, no matter if you only have a handful of whites, so you probably save money, too. With more frequent laundry sessions, you can reduce your wardrobe as well. I admit that I am not quite as brave as my friend. While … Continue reading →

Yarrow

Yarrow is a perennial herb with fernlike foliage. The foliage is covered with silky or wooly hairs; this herb produces white flowers in clusters. Yarrow is native to Europe but was brought to North America where it flourishes. Yarrow pollen fossils have been found in Neanderthal burial caves, suggesting that this herb has a VERY long history. Dried yarrow stalks are the traditional choice for casting the I-Ching, the Chinese divination practice. During the Trojan War, Achilles is thought to have packed yarrow into wounds to stop bleeding. Some botanists think that yarrow’s scientific name — achillea millefolium — comes … Continue reading →

Pet First Aid: Pressure Points

Bleeding can often look more serious than it really is. Many wounds will start to clot within ninety seconds, with a scab forming within hours. That first rush of blood from a wound helps clean out debris and bacteria! But deep wounds — especially ones that damage veins, nerves, and arteries — can be very serious. An injured vein will bleed dark red blood evenly. An injured artery will spurt bright red blood with each heartbeat. Artery damage is more serious than vein damage, though both can be life threatening. There are a few places where arteries are relatively close … Continue reading →