Pills you think are good for you may be causing unsightly bruises
10:02 a.m. Thursday, August 28, 2008
Ever wonder where a bruise on your leg or arm came from?
You may not have realized, but as we get older easy bruising becomes more common.
Bruises form when small blood vessels known as capillaries break near the skin's surface. They are usually caused by an impact from a blow or an injury, but may times bruises can pop up in unexpected places, especially the arms and legs -- just ask Melanie Fowler from Georgia.
She was lounging around her pool this summer when a friend made a comment about the marks on her legs.
"She actually started counting then and said 'how'd you get that many bruises,' and I didn't even realize I had some of those bruises," she said.
Fowler became concerned and went to the doctor.
"The first thing that came to mind was that I had a cancer or leukemia," she said.
Instead, Fowler was told she was taking supplements that caused her blood to thin, so she dropped her baby aspirin, but stuck with her Omega 3. And, her bruises began to disappear.
In your 30s and 40s, watch your medications. Blood thinning drugs, like aspirin, can cause bruising because blood from damaged vessels doesn't clot as quickly.
Also, certain dietary supplements like Omega-3 or fish oil, gingko, ginger and garlic can cause bruising because they too have a blood thinning effect.
Make sure your doctor knows you are taking these supplements.
And, watch the rays. Years of sun exposure can damage the skin and weaken the blood vessel walls.
In your 50s, your capillaries begin to age and become fragile. Over time the tissues that support the vessels weaken and capillary walls are more prone to rupture.
The skin also becomes thinner. That's because some of the protective, fatty layer that usually cushions blood vessels break down, leaving you more susceptible to bruising.
Most bruises go away in a few days, but if they continue, frequent bruising at any age may indicate something more serious is going on, such as blood clotting problems or blood diseases. If they persist, see your doctor.
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