One suffers from it faster than the other:bruising. In most cases, these are harmless bruises that require little or nothing to do. However, there are also less innocent causes. 7 Health Problems That Can Cause Bruising and What You Can Do About Them
Bruises are really nothing more than a bruise under the skin. This bruising is caused by damage to the fine veins that run just under the skin. If a fine blood vessel is damaged, some blood will leak out. This causes red and/or blue dots and the bruises that are familiar to us. In general, women bruise more easily than men. This also applies to the elderly, whose skin and fat layer is thinner. These spots eventually discolor from blue, to red and yellow and green. (source:Huidarts.com)
There are several things you can do about bruising. However, the most important thing is to first find out the cause of the bruise. Once you know it's a harmless bruise, there are a few things you can do to make the bruise disappear faster. Think of:
As mentioned before, there are countless reasons why you can get a bruise. This varies from innocent causes such as lifting heavy things to serious causes such as serious blood diseases.
Whether it's a workout at the gym or simply lifting a box too heavy at home. If you lift heavy things, there is a good chance that you will hit yourself and get a bruise as a result. In addition, there are also many people who start lifting weights and notice that they suffer from bruising. This also applies to children who often have to carry a backpack that is too heavy. In that case, bruises are a sign that you are overloaded and have to take a step back.
Taking certain medications can affect your blood and even cause bruising. Some medications create small and inconspicuous patches, while others can cause shockingly large patches. Medications known to cause bruising include:antidepressants, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs with iron, and anti-asthmatic drugs.
The most well-known drug that causes bruising is aspirin. Are you taking medication and suddenly see changes in your skin? Then contact your doctor. Sometimes it is necessary to stop certain medication to prevent internal bleeding.
A not so innocent cause of bruises are blood diseases. Varicose veins, von Willebrand's disease, thrombocytopenia and leukemia are often caused by blood circulation problems. In addition, if you have other symptoms that sound like alarms, see a doctor as soon as possible. Other symptoms may include pain and swollen feet, bleeding gums, nosebleeds and small red spots on the skin.
Vitamins, vitamins and again vitamins! We often make sure that our children get enough vitamins and minerals, but we fall short for ourselves. Sometimes bruises indicate a lack of nutrients in our body.
A good example of a deficiency that can cause bruising is vitamin B12. This vitamin is responsible for the production of blood. Vitamin K also plays an important role in blood clotting. The importance of vitamin C should not be underestimated either. Vitamin C is needed to make new tissue. A deficiency can cause our blood vessels to become weak.
Another very unknown vitamin is vitamin P, also known as bioflavonoids. Without bioflavonoids, collagen production is impossible. This in turn can lead to thin blood vessels that increase the risk of bruising.
Before you run to the drugstore to buy all kinds of vitamins and minerals:have your values checked first. Or make up for any shortages through nutrition.
A good source of vitamin B12 is liver, fish, cheese and salad. Vitamin K is found in bananas, eggs, nuts and oily fish. Bioflavonoids can be found in fresh green tea, apples, pumpkin and garlic.
Hormones, many people are regularly upset about this. That is also one reason that women bruise more easily than men. Hormonal fluctuations are often the cause of (unexplained) bruising. You will suffer from it if your estrogen level is (too) low.
This is often the case during menopause, if you are taking hormonal medication and if you are pregnant. A shortage of estrogen weakens the blood vessels, causing the walls of the capillaries to be damaged very easily.
A side effect of aging is that the capillaries lose their elasticity. The vascular system weakens with age and elasticity is lost. These age-induced bruises usually appear on the legs. Even the slightest touch can cause bruising, touches that wouldn't matter at all on younger skin.
When you talk about diabetes, the first things that come to mind are sugar and blood. Diabetes has a negative influence on the process of blood circulation, so that you get spots very quickly. Bruising can also be a symptom of early-stage diabetes.
Other symptoms to watch out for include frequent thirst, wounds take a long time to heal, and you tire quickly. Furthermore, blurred vision and white spots on the skin can be a sign of diabetes.
Most bruises are harmless. You can't do much more than wait for the spot to disappear again. However, there are also situations when you should consult a doctor. This is often necessary if the spots are accompanied by other symptoms. Even if the spot has not gone away after 2 weeks, it is good to visit your doctor for a check up.
When you punch, a spot first turns red. This is due to the color of your blood under your skin. After a while, the spot will discolor and turn black, blue, or purple as your body begins to break down the blood. After about 5 – 10 days the color changes to green or yellow. Between 10 – 14 days, the affected area turns brown and becomes lighter in color.
Have you ever had bruises that you didn't know what caused them? What did you do about it?
