Do you have bruises on your body? You may have one of these diseases

In some cases, bruises may indicate a poor condition of the body and a developing disease. Then it is worth taking a closer look at the matter in order to be able to react to the problem at an early stage. Bruising is also a symptom of serious diseases. Then they usually constitute only one of many disturbing symptoms.

It is often referred to as a disease, but should be taken as a symptom. Anemia, also known as anemia, is when the levels of red blood cells and their hemoglobin fall below a certain level. It may be the result of a developing disease, but is more often the result of lifestyle neglect – and, if left untreated, leads to the development of more serious conditions. Depending on the level of hemoglobin concentration, anemia is classified into mild, moderate, severe and life-threatening. The most common case is mild anemia – usually due to iron deficiency. There are several symptoms of developing anemia, incl. chronic fatigue, decreased body performance, prone to fainting, pale skin, dark circles under the eyes and easy bruising from minor injuries. Usually, recovery from mild anemia is possible by introducing iron-rich foods into the diet, more frequent physical activity and sun exposure to strengthen the immune system.

They can take the form of a bleeding disorder or a thromboembolic disorder. In the case of the former, the main symptoms are frequent, prolonged bleeding and a prolonged process of blood clotting. Bleeding can occur for trivial reasons, e.g. by irritating the gums with a toothbrush while brushing the teeth, by scratching or by injection. As a result, bruises relatively often appear on the body. In women there is also the problem of heavy periods. Haemorrhagic diathesis is the result of disturbance of the work of various blood components or elements of the circulatory system. The source of the problem may be, for example, defects in the structure of blood vessels or the deficiency of platelets responsible for the clotting processes. These factors may, in turn, be influenced by various pathological changes, the use of certain drugs (e.g. steroids) or a poor lifestyle. On the other hand, thromboembolic disorders are manifested by excessive blood clotting and a tendency to blood clots in the blood vessels. They can be the result of, for example, deep vein thrombosis or pancreatitis.

Deficiency of thrombocytes, i.e. platelets – cells responsible for the proper course of the blood clotting process. When it is injured, the thrombocytes together with the red blood cells form clots to stop bleeding. If the thrombocyte count is too low, you may experience disturbing health symptoms such as easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, difficulty stopping wound bleeding, and blood in the stool and urine. Thrombocytopenia is not a disease in itself, but it is a disturbing symptom that could indicate serious medical conditions such as leukemia or kidney failure. Of course, in cases of severe diseases, there are a number of accompanying symptoms, so you should not panic over the observation of an excessive number of bruises on the body. Thrombocytopenia may well be the result of a vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Then it is advisable to change the diet or supplementation.

A serious illness that primarily affects long-term alcohol abusers. It can also be caused by the action of other toxic substances, e.g. certain drugs, as well as viral hepatitis, autoimmune diseases or hereditary diseases. It is chronic and leads to irreversible liver damage. In the course of the disease, this organ undergoes fibrosis, which may eventually contribute to the development of the tumor. The disease process often does not give specific symptoms, therefore cirrhosis may go undetected for a long time. Symptoms that may indicate liver problems include loss of appetite, weight loss, digestive problems, pain under the right rib, and lethargy. Liver diseases also cause skin symptoms and those related to the functioning of the circulatory system (the liver produces compounds involved in the clotting process), e.g. frequent nosebleeds, bruises, spider angiomas, yellow discoloration of the skin in the case of jaundice.

The kidneys are one of the most heavily burdened organs in our body. They constantly filter the blood, clean it of harmful substances, remove metabolic products and the excess of certain micronutrients, incl. sodium, present in large amounts in our “oversalted” diet. When the kidneys start to get sick, like the liver, they have few symptoms at first and the symptoms are nonspecific. This is due to, inter alia, from the fact that the kidneys affect the functioning of the entire body and their poor condition is reflected in many other organs. One of the changes that should attract our attention is the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, which may be accompanied by swelling of the eyelids. Kidney problems are inevitably linked to urination disorders. There may also be swelling of the legs due to water retention in the body, and pulmonary edema manifesting itself with difficulty breathing. The type, number and intensity of symptoms depend on the stage of the disease and its type: renal failure may be chronic or acute, requiring immediate medical attention.

It is associated with the excess of cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is a hormone that is produced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. It has a very extensive effect on the body, but most of all it is associated with stress – in this respect it resembles the action of adrenaline. Cortisol also causes an increase in blood glucose, which is the body’s evolutionary response to stress. The persistent excessive amount of cortisol in the bloodstream can lead to a number of pathological symptoms, which constitute the so-called Cushing’s syndrome. One of its symptoms is the so-called thinning of the skin, i.e. its slow disappearance, loss of proper thickness and increased susceptibility to injuries. This results in easy bruising and other types of damage, including wounds that are resistant to healing. Cushing’s syndrome is also associated with weight gain, acne, weakness, headaches, emotional disturbances, and a host of other non-specific symptoms.

A genetic disease. It has been associated with a build-up of fatty compounds in some organs of the body, mainly the liver and spleen, but in some cases also in the bones, making them weak and increasing the risk of fracture. Gaucher disease can take many forms and symptoms. One of its symptoms is thrombocytopenia, which is clearly visible in the formation of bruises on the body. Others include anemia, enlargement of the liver and spleen, bone pain that may be prone to fractures and deformities, and yellow spots on the eyes. The development of Gaucher disease and its symptoms depend, inter alia, on from the age at which it appears. In the case of type II, childhood, it is acute, sometimes fatal. This variant of the disease is accompanied by serious neurological symptoms, incl. convulsions and psychomotor disorders. In adults, the course is milder and may be additionally alleviated by pharmacological treatment.

Called the disease of the kings, it is a form of bleeding disorder. It is the result of disturbances in the production of one of the proteins responsible for blood clotting. People suffering from it are very prone to bleeding that is difficult to control, either traumatic or spontaneous (e.g. nosebleeds). There is also internal bleeding into the joints, leading to degeneration of these organs, swelling and pain in the surrounding muscles. Due to the ease of suffering dangerous injuries, patients require special treatment from an early age and extraordinary precautions throughout their lives. Hemophilia is one of the oldest genetic diseases that has long been described in the medical literature. The first mentions of it are contained in the Talmud and come from the XNUMXnd century AD. A few centuries later it was also described in Arabic literature. Hemophilia was “made famous” in the XNUMXth century by the British Queen Victoria, who was its carrier. As a result, her daughters also became the carriers, and her son, the “victim”, as haemophilia mainly affects men (type A and B), and less frequently women (type C). Subsequent marriages between members of royal families in Europe led to an epidemic of this disease in the circles of the aristocracy.

Neoplastic disease of the tissues responsible for the production of blood cells, in particular the bone marrow, and lymph nodes. There are several types of leukemia. They are divided, inter alia, according to the criterion of origin (myeloid or lymphatic), course (acute and chronic), as well as morphological or genetic characteristics. Leukemia can take many different forms, so it is actually a group of diseases. Its name derives from the white color of the blood that is observed in acute cases of this disease. It results from the rapid multiplication of leukocytes, i.e. white blood cells responsible for protecting the body against pathogens. In leukemia, however, leukocytes are defective and unable to fulfill their function. The formation of healthy blood cells is inhibited by the development of immature blast cells. The form of leukemia treatment depends on its type and course. In acute cases, chemotherapy is usually used, sometimes a bone marrow transplant is required. Common, though nonspecific, symptoms of leukemia include: chronic fatigue, frequent infections, weight loss, enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen, frequent bleeding, e.g. from the nose, easy “acquiring” cuts and bruises, increased sweating, mainly at night, and bone pain.

Formerly known as allergic purpura, today it is referred to by a more complicated name: IgA-related vasculitis. IgA is immunoglobulin A responsible for protecting the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory tract against pathogens. Schönlein-Henoch disease occurs when the cells of the immune system – the so-called IgA-containing immune complexes – they begin to build up in the walls of small blood vessels. This leads to damage to these vessels and their bleeding. Inflammation most often affects the veins and arterioles of the skin, joints and organs of the digestive system. The causes of allergic purpura are unknown. They are probably related to the abnormal reaction of the immune system to pathogens. In most cases, purpura develops after previous respiratory tract infection, suggesting a correlation. However, the disease can also develop as a result of exposure to allergens. The main symptom of Henoch-Schönlein disease is a rash, usually resembling a nettle burn. It is found on the lower legs, buttocks and feet. Its disappearance is accompanied by bruising of the skin. Joint and abdominal pains also appear. Allergic purpura is usually mild and does not cause complications.