blood disorders
Bruising and Bleeding
Causes of Bruising and Bleeding
Three things are needed to help injured blood vessels stop bleeding: Platelets (blood cells that help in Overview of Platelet Disorders , including too few platelets ( Decreased activity of blood clotting factors (for example, due to Hemophilia , liver disorders, Defects in blood vessels Platelet disorders first cause small dots that appear red or purple on light skin and brown on dark skin (called petechiae). Later, if the disorder becomes severe, bleeding may occur. A decrease in blood clotting factors usually causes bleeding and bruising. Defects in blood vessels usually cause red or purple spots and patches on light skin and brown or dark patches on dark skin, rather than bleeding. Most commonly, easy or excessive bruising occurs because the skin and blood vessels are fragile. Women are commonly affected with Purpura Simplex . Older adults are commonly affected with senile purpura. Bruises tend to develop on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. However, people have no other symptoms of excessive bleeding, and blood test results are normal. These conditions are not serious, and no treatment is needed. Overall, themost common causesof easy bleeding include Severe platelet deficiency Use of medications that inhibit clotting ( Anticoagulation ), including Liver disease (causing inadequate production of clotting factors) Platelet deficiency can be due to inadequate production of platelets by the bone marrow or excessive destruction of platelets (for example, by an Enlarged Spleen or certain medications or infections). ) to decrease that tendency (see Medications and blood clots ). However, sometimes these medications decrease the body's clotting ability too much, and people have bleeding and/or bruising. The liver is a major site of blood clotting factor production, and helps to regulate blood clotting, and so people with liver disease (for example, Overview of Hepatitis or Hemophilia is a hereditary disorder in which the body does not make enough of one of the clotting factors. People have excessive bleeding into deep tissues such as muscles, joints, and the back of the abdominal cavity, usually following minor trauma. Bleeding may occur in the brain, which can be fatal. Certain disorders trigger the clotting system throughout the body. Instead of causing blood clots everywhere, platelets and clotting factors are quickly used up and bleeding occurs. This process, called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) (DIC), can be triggered by many conditions, including severe infections, severe injury, labor and delivery, and certain cancers. People with DIC are often already in a hospital. They bleed excessively from needle punctures and often have significant digestive tract bleeding. 