Are bruises serious?

Have you ever woken up with mysterious bruises all over your body? Maybe you didn’t remember tripping or bumping into something, so you just shrugged it off and went about your day. But could these seemingly harmless marks actually be a sign of something more serious? Let’s dive deep into the world of bruises and find out!

What is a Bruise?

A bruise, also known as a contusion or ecchymosis (yeah, we’re fancy like that), is an injury to your skin or underlying tissues that results in discoloration. It happens when small blood vessels get damaged, causing blood to leak under the skin.

Why do Bruises Happen?

Bruises can happen for many reasons – some of which are embarrassing to admit! We’ve compiled a list of possible scenarios:

  • You walked into a doorframe because you were too busy staring at your phone.
  • You got hit by someone’s backpack on a crowded subway.
  • You fell off the bed trying to reach for the last slice of pizza.
  • You tried impressing your crush by attempting parkour moves but ended up face planting onto concrete.
  • Your pet accidentally scratched/bit/hugged/pawed/clawed/sat on/catapulted itself onto you.

Of course, there are legitimate reasons why one might get bruised as well:

  • Sports injuries
  • Car accidents
  • Major falls

But let’s focus on the important question here: how freaky should I be feeling if I wake up with multiple unexplained purple-blue-green-yellow stains all over my limbs?

Should I Be Worried About My Bruises?

Normally no. Most minor bruises disappear within two weeks without any complications or interventions needed. However, if you have excessive bruising and/or bleeding frequently without explanation, there might be another issue going on that needs medical attention. Here are some potential causes:

  • Inherited clotting disorders.
  • Low platelet count, which can be caused by medications, supplements or underlying medical conditions such as bone marrow disorder or liver disease.
  • Vitamin C deficiency, which plays a role in collagen synthesis and strengthens blood vessels.
  • Abuse of medication such as aspirin and ibuprofen; those with anticoagulant properties that decrease blood clotting.

The Different Types Of Bruises

Most people know what a bruise looks like – it’s perfectly safe to say that they’re universally disliked. But did you know there are different types of bruises based on where they occur?

Intradermal Bruising

An intradermal bruise is located underneath the very top layer of skin. It’s probably not going to hurt too much since only minor trauma can cause an injury in this location.

Subcutaneous Bruising

The most common type of bruise is called subcutaneous, which happens when the blunt force breaks small capillaries and spreads into deep tissue layers beneath the skin. A subcutaneous bruise will feel painful when touched.

Deep Muscle Tissue Injury

When even deeper tissues are damaged – like muscle fibres – it’s classified as deep tissue injury. Pain here can last for weeks after impact due to severe internal bleeding near nerve endings.

How To Treat A Bruise

Here are some standard home remedies for treating minor bumps & bruises:

Treatment Explanation
Apply Ice Or Cold Packs This helps reduce pain and swelling by constricting blood vessels and slowing down blood flow entering beneath your skin (source: WebMD).
Healing Compresses: Chamomile Tea Bags And Vinegar Bread Poultice Ah yes, I’m sure we all have chamomile tea bags lying around our homes… If you’re more of a vinegar kind of person, you can use it to mix with bread and create a poultice for your bruise. Just put the concoction on your skin, wrap it in gauze – et voilà! The heat stimulates blood flow, which reabsorbs the old blood that causes discoloration.The medication (That’s what we’re calling our homemade remedies) helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation by stimulating circulation (source: Healthline).
Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers Medications such ad ibuprofen would help provide some relief due to its anti-inflammatory properties. But remember: Too much intake may lead to negative side effects including ulcers or stomach bleeding if not used properly.

Some tips worth noting:

  • Rest where appropriate.
  • Apply compression wrapping over your wound.
  • Elevate limb/area affected (where possible).

When Should I See A Doctor?

While mild bruises aren’t something you should be worrying too much about, there are times when expert medical attention is necessary:

  1. If you’ve experienced trauma resulting in lacerations
  2. You have unexplained personal health conditions or family history
  3. Your symptom combinations include sudden headaches/dizziness/fatigue

In these cases seeking support from a doctor could determine how critical the matter is.

Conclusion

So now that we’ve examined everything throughly…are bruises serious? Not usually; however this isn’t an excuse to ignore any underlying issues frequently causing them and injuring oneself.

Minor bumps & injuries heal by itself; people just need ample rest at times as well as proper first aid measures.

When severe symptoms do occur though (as mentioned before) contacting a professional for further diagnosing could save one’s life (&/or limbs). It’s better safe than sorry!

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