Easy bruising can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'minor' to 'critical'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose easy bruising, we could:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Leukemia | 99% | Confirm |
Vitamin K Need | 21% | Unlikely |
Liver Congestion | 20% | Unlikely |
Bioflavonoid Need | 1% | Ruled out |
Cirrhosis Of The Liver | 1% | Ruled out |
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity | 0% | Ruled out |
Vitamin C Need | 0% | Ruled out |
Lupus (SLE) | 0% | Ruled out |
Do you bruise easily?
Possible responses:
→ No / about average / don't know→ Yes, a little more easily than other people → Yes, even a little bump will leave a bruise → Yes, very easily - I often/always have bruises |
A double-blind study of 96 people with fragile capillaries found that bioflavonoids decreased the tendency to bruise [Int Angiol. 1993;12: pp.69-72]. In a single-blind study of 27 wrestlers, 71% of those taking a placebo were injured, with bruises making up more than half their injuries; in contrast, only 38% of those taking the supplement were injured, none of whom sustained bruises. In a follow-up double-blind study of 40 football players, the treated group received fewer severe bruises than the group taking placebo [Med Times. 1960;88: pp.313-316].
When the liver slows or stops production of the proteins needed for blood clotting, a person will bruise or bleed easily.
Higher numbers of immature white blood cells displace blood platelets, which are essential for the blood clotting process. Increased bruising and bleeding is due to reduced platelets in ALL, AML, and CML.