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Home  Senior Living Treat Yourself Tenderly and Avoid Bruises
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Treat Yourself Tenderly and Avoid Bruises |
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Sunday, 01 January 2006 |
As we age, the tendency to bruise increases—and it’s normally nothing to worry about.
Bruises usually form when small blood vessels, or capillaries, near the skin’s surface break from an impact or injury. As a rule, the harder the blow, the bigger the bruise. These marks usually fade without treatment, when the body reabsorbs the blood.
Over time, as our capillaries age, their walls become more fragile and prone to rupturing. In addition, our skin becomes thinner, losing some of the protective, fatty layer that had cushioned our blood vessels. It’s important to note that excessive sun exposure also affects skin much like aging.
While little can be done for a bruise, if swelling is associated with the injury, apply a cold compress for 20 minutes at a time and elevate the affected area. Once the swelling has subsided, applying a warm compress may help speed blood reabsorption.
Here are some things you can do to prevent getting bruises:
Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
Eliminate the household clutter or poorly placed furniture that might cause bumps or falls.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts for an extra layer of protection.
In rare cases, bruising can be a sign of a more serious problem, like low levels or abnormal function of platelets, a component that helps blood clot after an injury. Contact your doctor immediately if:
You’ve suddenly begun experiencing bruises, with no previous history of bruising, particularly if you recently started a new medication.
You have unusually large or painful bruises, and they’ve formed for no known reason.
You’re bruising easily and experiencing abnormal bleeding elsewhere, like from your nose, gums or intestinal tract.
Some medications and supplements can contribute to easy bruising. For example, blood-thinning drugs—aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin) and medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix)—reduce the blood’s ability to clot, so capillary damage allows more blood to leak out, causing a larger bruise. Corticosteroids can cause thinning skin. Dietary supplements—fish oil, ginkgo, ginger and garlic—also have a blood-thinning effect.
Please—don’t stop taking your medications if you experience increased bruising. Instead, talk to your doctor about your concerns and find out what you can do. Be sure to let your healthcare professional and pharmacist know if you’re taking over-the-counter medications or supplements.
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