What's up with the bruises on my calves?

Bruise on the legs is a very common phenomenon in life. Bumps and collisions can cause bruises, but not all bruises are caused by bumps and collisions. If the bruises are caused by bumps and collisions, you don’t need to pay attention to them, because the bruises will gradually fade away with time. If the bruises are caused by illness, you must pay attention to them, go to the hospital as soon as possible to find out the cause, and treat them early.

In traditional Chinese medicine, there are two possible explanations for the occurrence of ecchymosis.

One is that the spleen fails to regulate blood.

This is because the spleen is weak, the blood absorption function is reduced, the blood does not circulate normally, and it is easy to cause subcutaneous bleeding and ecchymosis. This type of people generally have symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, loose stools, shortness of breath, laziness, fatigue and listlessness.

Treatment should be aimed at tonifying the spleen and retaining blood.

The second is blood stasis, which means poor blood circulation.

This type of people have blood stasis in the body, which causes blood to not return to the meridians and overflow outside the vessels, and ecchymosis will also appear. Generally, they will have dull complexion, rough brown skin, pigmentation, or purple spots, dull lips, bluish purple tongue or ecchymosis, and a thin and wiry pulse. The general treatment principle should be to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis. Attention should be paid to improving blood stasis constitution and preventing the occurrence of diseases. It is advisable to eat more foods that replenish qi and blood, nourish blood, promote blood circulation and qi circulation, so as to promote blood circulation in the body.

Western medicine believes that skin bruises are actually a kind of subcutaneous bleeding.

The common causes are divided into the following three categories: vascular factors, platelet factors, and coagulation and anticoagulation factors.

1. Vascular factors

Due to genetic factors, severe infection or lack of vitamin C, the fragility of capillaries increases. If the skin is slightly bumped or rubbed, the capillaries will rupture, causing purpura or ecchymosis under the skin.

2. Platelet factors

If the number of platelets decreases or their function is impaired, spontaneous bruises will appear on the skin, often accompanied by abnormalities such as hemoptysis, blood in the stool, hematuria or menorrhagia. The most serious situation is that leukemia patients may also develop bruises on their bodies due to low platelets, so it is important to take it seriously.

3. Coagulation and anticoagulation factors

When suffering from hemophilia or vitamin K deficiency, purpura often appears on the skin, and once bleeding occurs, it is difficult to stop. People without a clear history of trauma are still very likely to suffer from this disease.

How should patients with bruises on their bodies be treated?

1. If the skin bruises are caused by low platelets, a nutritious, high-calorie, high-protein, multi-vitamin, and rich in inorganic salts diet is generally required to help restore hematopoietic function.

2. Avoid excessive fatigue and ensure adequate sleep.

3. Take part in some appropriate exercises, such as walking, jogging, Tai Chi, etc., to enhance your physical fitness.

4. Appropriate massage or hot compress can relieve symptoms.

5. If bruises are caused by taking aspirin or warfarin, you can stop taking the medication first and then go to the hospital for testing.