Why Do I Bruise Easily? Doctors Explain Easy Bruising

Cirrhosis can cause a host of other health problems, including high blood pressure, which can lead to the development of enlarged veins in the esophagus called esophageal varices. These are similar to the varicose veins that some people develop in their legs. But esophageal varices are prone to rupture, and when they do, the alcoholic can bleed to death. Those in the end stage of alcoholism, or late or deteriorative stage, are consumed by their drinking. Years of chronic alcohol consumption have ravaged their body and mind, and their lives revolve around little else other than the bottle.

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When there’s not enough hemoglobin to go around, the body’s red blood cells aren’t able to function properly. Because they act as the body’s oxygen-delivery service, your cells won’t receive enough oxygen to thrive, do alcoholics bruise easily making your skin more susceptible to bruising. Meanwhile, a vitamin K deficiency might translate into black stool and blood clots underneath the nails, in addition to being more susceptible to bruising.

• Between 3 and 5 percent of people withdrawing from alcohol develop grand mal seizures and severe confusion, known as delirium tremens.
• Bruising easily is not a common symptom of low iron levels.
• Aside from a physical exam to look at any bruises, your healthcare provider will likely ask you questions about your family medical history.
• But if you often drink a lot of alcohol and you tend to bruise easily, it may mean you’ve got liver problems.
• In compensated cirrhosis, the liver remains functioning, and many people have no symptoms.

Why is easy bruising so common in older adults?

“Having a vitamin deficiency can hinder your body’s ability to create blood clots, which can lead to bigger and darker bruises,” Dr. Johnston says. Specifically, deficiencies in vitamins K and C can cause more severe and sometimes unexplainable bruising. Taking certain medications (aspirin, steroids) and drinking alcohol can also encourage this type of bruising to form. The treatment for easy bruising consists of finding and treating the underlying cause. For example, if your doctor finds that a medication is causing you to bruise easily, they may discontinue it or replace it with another medication. On the other hand, if you need to continue taking the medicine to treat another health condition, your doctor may allow you to do so with precautions to prevent bruising.

• Anyone who notices they are bruising more often or more easily than usual should seek medical advice to rule out other health issues or seek treatment as appropriate.
• Heavy alcohol use can damage the liver, leaving it unable to make these important proteins.
• While bumping into something while drinking may seem relatively harmless, the truth is that excessive drinking can set you up for serious injuries from falling or other accidents.
• Ecchymosis (pronounced eh-kuh-mow-sis) is the medical term for a bruise.
• It causes dark purple bruise-like lesions on the skin and is most likely to develop on the arms and hands.
• The treatment for easy bruising consists of finding and treating the underlying cause.

Large Quantities Of Alcohol Consumption

In liver failure, the liver is severely damaged and can no longer function. Other organs, such as the kidneys, and body systems such as the respiratory system, may also begin to fail. Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes damaged and inflamed. Symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), malnourishment, swelling, and accumulation of fluid around the liver. Anyone who notices they are bruising more often or more easily than usual should seek medical advice to rule out other health issues or seek treatment as appropriate.

How To Treat Ankle Injuries – and Avoid Them

They may also develop large bruises after minor injuries or have bruises that take many weeks to heal. While end-stage alcoholism is a dire situation, it’s not a hopeless one. Late-stage alcoholics can get better if they seek treatment, and some of their health problems can even be reversed if caught early enough. Later, it can cause fatigue, bleeding and bruising, itchy skin, yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes and fluid accumulation in the abdomen known as ascites. Fluid buildup in end-stage liver disease is a particularly ominous sign.

However, the occasional bruise or a bruise due to an accident, typically isn’t a cause for concern. Bruising (ecchymosis) happens when small blood vessels (capillaries) break under your skin. You’ll see discoloration from the bleeding under your skin, which is a bruise.

Do You Bleed More When You Drink?

Senile purpura does not have links with any serious health condition, but it may increase the risk of skin tears. Senile purpura is common among older adults, affecting 12% of people over 50 years old and up to 30% of those ages 75 and over. It causes dark purple bruise-like lesions on the skin and is most likely to develop on the arms and hands. People taking medication who notice an increase in bleeding or bruising should consider asking a doctor whether their medication can cause bleeding. They may wish to discuss the risks and benefits of continuing treatment.

In response, blood vessels in your face dilate – causing redness. In the long term, these vessels can over-dilate, leading to spider veins on the skin. Certain physical signs and symptoms https://ecosoberhouse.com/ might indicate that you’ve developed an alcohol addiction. Symptoms of alcoholism vary, but in this piece we’ll focus on some of the physical signs of alcohol dependence.

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• After two days, you can apply a warm compress or a heating pad several times a day.
• You can help speed your recovery if you use a cushion or gel donut when you sit down because this takes the pressure off your tailbone.
• Because alcoholism is a chronic disease and alcohol relapse is common, persistence is a necessity — but success is achievable.
• They may also order imaging studies to check for severe internal injuries.
• Eventually the body reabsorbs the blood, and the mark disappears.
• Your healthcare provider may also test you for individual nutrient deficiencies.