Heavy alcohol use can damage the liver, leaving it unable to make these important proteins. People with an underlying health condition such as cirrhosis or other types of liver disease can also develop easy or frequent bruising. Drinking too much alcohol is a risk factor for liver diseases like cirrhosis. As liver disease progresses, the liver stops producing the proteins needed for helping blood clot. Because of this, a person may have excessive bleeding and bruise easily.
For the average healthy guy (say, drinking one or two drinks per night, or fewer than 14 drinks per week) the alcohol-related effects on bruising are temporary, and no real cause for concern. But long-term and excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver inflammation (liver hepatitis). Symptoms of this condition include appetite loss and weight loss. If you’re experiencing alcohol symptoms like easy bruising, or you simply want to break free from alcohol misuse, Confidant is here to help. We provide online medication assisted treatment for alcohol use, so you can begin your recovery from home. According to the National Library of Medicine, a bruise is a mark under the skin, usually painful and swollen, that occurs because of blood trapped beneath the skin’s surface.
What is a bruise?
Wrap the ice pack before you put it on so you don’t freeze your skin, and don’t leave it on for more than 15 minutes at a time. If necessary, your doctor can pierce your nail to drain the blood and fluid built up underneath. Don’t do this yourself because you could hurt yourself further, cause an infection, and slow your healing process.
Spur-cell hemolysis occurs in about 3 percent of alcoholics with advanced liver disease, causing anemia that progresses relentlessly and is eventually fatal. Clinicians have tried unsuccessfully to treat the disorder using various agents with cholesterol-lowering properties. Consequently, surgical removal of the spleen is the only treatment capable of slowing the hemolytic process.
Bruises
When blood vessels are dilated, you’re more likely to experience a bruise after bumping into something. This effect may explain why you’re waking up with bruises after drinking. Even if you aren’t experiencing severe health problems like cirrhosis from alcohol, seeking early treatment can prevent an alcohol use disorder from progressing and causing severe complications. If alcohol begins to interfere with daily functioning, but you have been unsuccessful with giving up drinking, seeking treatment can help you to stay committed to recovery. After all, heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious injuries from falls, burns, and motor vehicle crashes. That means you have less protection to soften a bump against a table or chair.
- Also, tell your provider about any supplements you’re taking — especially if you’re taking them while on a blood-thinning drug.
- The mental and physical health of alcoholics are rapidly deteriorating at this stage, and unless they seek alcohol rehab, they may drink themselves to death.
- For example, different types of leukemia are characterized by the accumulation in the bone marrow of WBC precursors at specific developmental stages.
What you’re technically experiencing there is a drop in your blood pressure, which causes the heart to work a little harder than usual to pump blood to the rest of your organs. Alcohol impairs your cerebellum, the part of your brain that’s responsible for coordinating https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your movements, Swartzwelder says. For some of us, half a dozen drinks during a night out aren’t yet enough to faze us. And yes, you may feel great and energized upon waking up—but that doesn’t mean you didn’t have too much to drink the night before.
Blood cancer
Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcoholic hepatitis, which is the inflammation of your liver. One common sign of alcoholic hepatitis is jaundice, where the skin and whites of your eyes look yellowish. Heavy drinking can lead to easy bruising and bleeding, and not just because you’re more prone to falling and hitting table corners when drunk.
Recent research shows occasional binge drinking increases risk of liver disease. – Psychology Today
Recent research shows occasional binge drinking increases risk of liver disease..
Posted: Mon, 24 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMT [source]
In addition to easy bruising, bleeding disorders can cause frequent nosebleeds, heavy periods, and bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes. Other medical conditions that can cause easy bruising include Cushing’s syndrome and leukemia. Doctors diagnose the cause of easy bruising by obtaining a thorough personal and family medical history and performing a physical exam. They may ask you to provide a list of all your medications to identify possible culprits. Your provider may order blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies and clotting abnormalities.
Why Do I Bruise So Easily?
It can also relax the muscles leading towards your stomach, increasing the likelihood of leaking stomach acid. If you’re not consciously keeping track of the drinks you’ve chugged, it’s easy to go over these limits. According to the CDC, moderate drinking is alcohol and bruising defined as having two standard drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women. Cancer-related bruises tend to appear in odd places, like the torso or hands. Contact your GP for advice if you have a history of regular alcohol misuse.