Causes of Easy Bruising

A bruise occurs when a traumatic injury is caused to any of the soft muscle tissues. This injury results in breakage of capillaries and leakage of red blood cells or bleeding. It is a common phenomena of aging and usually harmless, which heals over a period of time without treatment. However, sometimes the bruise may not heal on its own and may be a sign of a more serious problem. It may need immediate medical attention.

The symptoms include development of bruises with no particular or known reason, bleeding of gums and nose, skin rashes that look like injury to the blood vessels, swollen lymph nodes and bleeding after an injury that refuses to cease.

Bruise may appear to be large and swollen, causing some amount of pain. Easy bruising may also be accompanied by other medical conditions, like high blood pressure and fever or maybe noticed soon after the consumption of certain prescribed medications.

Medical Conditions
Medical conditions that can cause easy bruising include liver diseases, hepatitis, platelet disorders, Marfan syndrome, Von Willebrand disease, bone marrow disorders, antibodies anti-FVIIIc syndrome and Cushing's syndrome. It may also be an indication of underlying medical conditions like blood cancer or leukemia.

Blood Clotting Abnormalities
Another cause of easy bruising can be attributed to blood clotting abnormalities, also known as hemophilia, that are mostly genetic in nature. For the blood to clot properly, a number of factors must work together. If any of these factors is missing, the blood does not clot and leads to easy bruising.

Medications
Blood thinning drugs, like warfarin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin, corticosteroids; and dietary supplements, like fish oil and ginkgo biloba, hamper the ability of blood to clot. Therefore, when an injury occurs and starts bleeding it allows enough blood to leak out and cause a bruise.

Aging
Another important cause is the age factor. As we age, the capillaries in our body also age which can cause easy bruising and bleeding. This is observed especially in older women.

The tissues surrounding the capillaries weaken, making their walls very fragile and prone to rupture. The skin, too, loses its protective fat layer and starts growing thinner. This makes the skin prone to injury and bleeding, as the protective cushion is no longer available to prevent the capillaries from rupturing.

Deficiency of Vitamin K
Vitamin K plays an important role in blood clotting and deficiency of the same may lead to easy bruising. Usually deficiency of vitamin K is found in newborns or toddlers, which can affect the platelet counts in body. It is treated with a shot of vitamin K.

Sometimes, adults with eating disorders, too, are seen to have vitamin-K deficiency. In this case, lots of green leafy vegetables should be included in the diet and vitamin K and C supplements should be taken if necessary.

Easy bruising can be treated once it has been diagnosed and detected by your doctor. The doctor should also be able to diagnose appropriate cause of the same. If the cause is a medical condition, then the treatment of the condition will help cure easy bruising as well.

As far as age is concerned, consuming zinc and folic acid or vitamin C supplements may help prevent easy bruising. Do not let this condition go unnoticed, make sure you consult a medical practitioner for an appropriate treatment to do away with the bruises.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of a medical expert.