| Whether you are in a rush to get things done or | | | | forming, but if you take the right steps you will |
| find yourself exhausted and tired, the chances of | | | | be able to lessen the swelling, pain and |
| not thinking before you act could lend its way to | | | | discoloration. |
| bruising. It happens when you least expect it. You | | | | The first step to bruise prevention is to make |
| turn too sharply when going around the counter | | | | sure you get enough vitamin C every day. |
| and bump your hip. Or your grandson leaves his | | | | Vitamin C helps your body to make collagen. |
| roller skates out and you trip and hit your shins. | | | | Collagen is an important part of the supportive |
| Regardless on how it happens you can end up | | | | layer beneath your skin. If you aren't getting |
| with a nice bruise to show for your troubles. | | | | enough vitamin C, it can weaken your collagen, |
| Fortunately, bruising is a normal and healthy part | | | | and that may make you bruise more easily. |
| of the healing process. You can help prevent | | | | Getting enough vitamin C will give you healthier |
| bruises or make them heal faster if you follow | | | | skin and will help prevent bruises especially from |
| some of the simple recommendations outline | | | | minor bumps. |
| below. I'll also show you how to recognize when | | | | When you get a bump that you think might form |
| bruising points to bigger health issues. | | | | a bruise, you can greatly reduce the swelling and |
| Why Your Body Bruises | | | | appearance of the bruise by putting ice on the |
| Your smallest blood vessels are called capillaries. | | | | area as soon as possible. You'll get the best |
| When you bump into something hard enough, the | | | | results if you ice the area for ten to fifteen |
| capillaries under your skin burst and bleed beneath | | | | minutes every two hours. If a bruise does form, |
| your skin. That forms the bluish or reddish mark | | | | apply a salve that contains comfrey to the area |
| you know as a bruise. That's just a surface mark. | | | | to speed the healing process. |
| It will heal without any special treatment as long | | | | Applying a topical lotion containing vitamin K to |
| as you give it time. | | | | areas where you are prone to bruise might also |
| Depending on how hard you get hit, you might | | | | help cut down on the number of bruises you get. |
| also bruise deeper tissues. These types of bruises | | | | When to Worry |
| take longer to heal and they hurt more. | | | | Most bruises don't require any medical attention at |
| When you bruise, the area is usually sore and | | | | all. However, in some cases, your body may be |
| may even swell a little bit. These are signs your | | | | trying to warn you of a bigger problem. |
| body is responding and that the bruise is healing. | | | | Some diseases or conditions will cause you to |
| Over time, the swelling will go down and the | | | | bruise more easily. Easy bruising may indicate a |
| bruise will change to a yellow, green, or brown | | | | nutritional deficiency. Hemophilia and von Willebrand |
| color. Then it will fade completely. | | | | disease also cause easy bruising. In both diseases, |
| How to Stop a Bruise From Forming in the First | | | | the blood doesn't clot properly. These diseases |
| Place | | | | can be very serious and require a doctor's care. |
| It's not always possible to prevent a bruise from | | | | |