Physical Signs and Other Symptoms of Alcoholism & Alcohol Abuse

Ditto if they start to appear after you’ve started a new medication. The inflammatory disease process (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and the like) can lead to a low platelet count and affect how well your blood clots following an injury. Anti-inflammatory medications, like steroids (used to treat conditions such as asthma, hives, psoriasis and allergies), can also cause easy bruising, thanks to their skin-thinning effects. “Any medications that have a blood-thinning effect or reduce your blood’s ability to create clots will trigger bigger bruises after experiencing impact on the body,” Dr. Johnston says.

Bruise Treatments

It affects more men than women and is fatal 10 to 20 percent of the time. However, if the disease progresses, it do alcoholics bruise easily is often not reversible. Medications and lifestyle modifications may also be prescribed depending on the stage.

Certain Medications and Supplements

Place an ice pack wrapped in a clean dry cloth onto the affected area for 30 minutes. This will help shrink the blood vessels and reduce inflammation. Medications commonly prescribed to older adults, such as blood thinners, also contribute to easy bruising. Older adults also can be especially vulnerable to physical abuse. They may lose feelings of hunger or no longer have a desire for food, as their focus shifts to alcohol.

Progressive Symptoms

Some conditions can make it harder for your blood to clot, which may increase your chance of bruising and bleeding. People with von Willebrand disease (about 1%-2% of the population have this) make little or no von Willebrand protein, which is important for blood clotting. Bruising easily can happen to anyone at any age, but people assigned female at birth are generally at higher risk. The liver’s many functions include producing clotting factors.

• After your injury, put an ice pack on it every once in a while for the first hours.
• People with low levels of vitamin K may notice easy bruising.
• Fatty liver disease can also develop after binge drinking, which is defined as drinking four to five drinks in two hours or less.
• Depending on the severity and type of hemophilia, bleeding may occur spontaneously (without injury) or after trauma or surgery.
• Problems with two major organs — your liver and kidneys — can cause blood abnormalities.
• “There are many genetic blood abnormalities that can cause easy bruising,” Dr. Kappel says.

Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol suppresses the bone marrow and causes a decrease in the number of platelets your body produces. Bruises commonly develop on the arms and legs, as these sites are susceptible to injury (such as bumping into furniture). Bruises usually heal without treatment, but raising the bruised part and applying ice covered in a cloth may help reduce swelling. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should seek prompt medical advice, as early treatment is often effective. Senile purpura is common among older adults, affecting 12% of people over 50 years old and up to 30% of those ages 75 and over. It causes dark purple bruise-like lesions on the skin and is most likely to develop on the arms and hands.

• Some people just have more fragile blood vessels, and that makes them more likely to bruise, especially on their upper arms, thighs, or butt.
• More seriously, this reduced clotting leads to an increased risk of stroke.
• The liver makes proteins that the blood needs for clotting, so if it’s not doing its job, you may bleed or bruise more easily.
• Next, read what you need to know about bruising easily (anemia isn’t always the answer, BTW).
• They can diagnose bleeding disorders, thyroid disease, or even simple aging that can be the cause of bruising.

Common Bruise Locations

Symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, muscle cramps, easy bruising, and jaundice. Bruises that take a long time to heal or getting bruised for no apparent cause could be signs of a bleeding disorder. Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women’s health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

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