Boxing is a tough sport, which is not only felt by the opponents in the ring, but the spectators often get to see. Some rights leave clear marks on the face of the opponent, which are visible there for days as bruises. We all know such skin discolorations. They occur easily when you bump the edge of the table, slip on black ice or sprain your ankle.
Hallmarks and signs
As harmless as bruises can be, it is important to remember that they can sometimes be a sign of serious illness. Similar hues also occur when, after an injection or blood draw, the injection site is not squeezed tightly or long enough for the blood to seep into the tissue. So as different as the cause may be, the consequences are the same in all cases. The bruise, called a hematoma (bruise) by the medical profession, is due to bleeding in or just under the skin. Likewise, the bleeding can also occur in the tissue under the layers of the skin. In the case of boxing, if it is the punch that bursts a vein and thus causes the accumulation of blood in the tissue, in the other case, the leakage of blood from the puncture channel of the injection site ruptures a vessel. The color intensity of the bruise depends on various factors. For example, it is strongly influenced by the color of the person’s skin. Therefore, it is obvious that a skin hemorrhage appears less contrasting in dark-skinned people than in those who have very light skin. In addition, the color intensity is co-determined by the location of the bruise in the skin and its extension into the depth of the tissue. Large, fresh and shallow bruises that are located directly under the skin or have even penetrated the individual layers of the skin have a light red color. The deeper the bruise sits, the darker its hue. Additional color changes are also caused by the age of the blood collections. At first they show gray-blue, later yellow-green to yellow-brown shades. The different colors, which can take on all the shades of the rainbow, are caused by the transformation of the blood pigment, hemosiderin. During the rapid decomposition of the blood in the tissue, the blood cells are dissolved. The released dye permeates and colors the surrounding area, as far as it is carried by the tissue fluid. After several days or weeks, depending on the size of the effusion, which is equivalent to the amount of blood that has infiltrated, it is absorbed by the lymphatic vessels and gradually disappears.
Symptoms
Sometimes pain and severe swelling occur, requiring immobilizing bandages and moist compresses. In any case, however, the doctor must then be consulted immediately, as only he can determine whether complications, such as a sprain or a fracture, are hidden behind these symptoms.
Causes
In the occurrence of these hemorrhages, one must distinguish between two basic causes, trauma, which is an external cause such as impact, pressure, fall or cut, and internal diseases. If a blood vessel is injured by external impact, the effusion forms at the site of impact. Such effusions therefore occur not only under the skin, but also, for example, in the thoracic cavity, pericardium, skull, testicles and joint capsules. In these cases, however, there are usually injuries of larger vessels, because a certain level of blood pressure is required for the formation of such a large accumulation of blood. In the case of external violence, the more sudden and unexpected the impact, the greater will be the effusion of blood, and the less time the blood has to empty itself into the neighboring vessels. In general, the elasticity and suppleness of the skin protects against rupture of the vessels, but sometimes even violent squeezing or pinching of the skin leads to rupture of the vessel wall. In addition, there are people who are so sensitive that even a slight pressure on the skin or even intense scratching causes extensive bruising. The second type of skin bleeding is due to internal diseases. These collections of blood do not have the size and extent that sometimes occur in bruises caused by external action, because their mechanism of formation is completely different. Often there are complicated disorders in the blood itself or in the area of the blood vessel.These skin bleedings are either due to a pathological permeability of the blood vessels or a reduced clotting ability of the blood. An injured vessel or wound is usually closed by a solid blood clot. The protein substance fibrin, which is formed from fibrinogen with the addition of the specific active substance thrombin, is required for the formation of this blood clot. The clotting activity of these thromboplastins now depends on the presence of the starting substances necessary for thromboplastin formation. The number and functional efficiency of the blood platelets, the thrombocytes, are also important for normal clotting ability. A greater reduction or even absence of these thromboplastin-, thrombin- and fibrin-forming precursors, as well as the presence of anticoagulant and fibrin-dissolving substances, can cause a disorder of blood coagulation, so that bleeding occurs. One of these coagulation disorders is hemophilia, a hereditary blood disorder. Here, even insignificant procedures, such as pulling a tooth, a blow to the nose or a cut while shaving, can cause death through unstoppable bleeding if relief measures are not taken in time. Today, however, there are drugs that, although they do not cure this disease, catch up with the fatal bleeding. Apart from the mentioned diseases, there are a number of diseases that also cause bleeding in the skin and tissues. For example, infectious diseases such as malaria and typhus, poisoning, rheumatism, the overdose of drugs, or hypersensitivity reactions to drugs. Therefore, it is not always easy for the doctor to immediately identify the correct cause. Thus, bruises are only a symptom. There is always an external or internal cause. As harmless as they can generally be, and as amusing as a “black eye” on the eye often is to those around it, it is important to remember that they can sometimes be a sign of serious illness.
Diseases with this symptom
- Leukemia
- Lipedema
- Fatty liver
- Hemangioma
- Sports injuries
- Spotted fever
- Spider veins
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Frostbite
- Bruises
- Cut wound
- Malaria
- Meningitis
- Bone fracture
- Sprain
- Thrombosis
- Hemophilia
- Blood clotting disorder
Complications
Everyone knows about bruises. They occur when you bump the edge of the table or slip and fall. Bruises are harmless, it is a bruise that goes away on its own. Bruises can also be caused by blood collection, that is why it is necessary to press long and hard on the puncture site. The bruise always has the same cause, directly under the skin the tissue is destroyed. Bruises are of different color intensity, it is always necessary to take into account the location, the depth of the tissue and the extent. Thus, fresh bruises located just under the skin are somewhat lighter in color, whereas deep-seated bruises appear darker. Age, of course, also plays a role. If severe pain and swelling occur, moist compresses can help and in any case the patient should wear a bandage. A doctor should always be consulted here; a broken bone or sprain could be diagnosed. A large bruise is usually due to force, the blood cannot empty into nearby vessels. Although the skin is supple and protects itself, sometimes the vessels rupture nevertheless. In some cases, a severe squeeze or pinch of the skin is enough to cause a bruise. It also always depends on how sensitive the person is.
When should you go to the doctor?
If the number of bruises continues to increase over several days, they should be examined more closely by a doctor. In this case, the bleeding could not be successfully stopped by the measures taken. Depending on the position of the bruises and the size of the damaged blood vessels, there may therefore be further effects on the cardiovascular system. The heart has to work harder to compensate for the continued blood loss. This leads to strain and can overload the heart muscle. This poses the threat of a heart attack in severe cases.Since hemorrhages, which are located deep inside the tissue can not be seen completely from the outside. Therefore, if there is severe or unusually intense pressure pain on the affected region, a doctor should also be consulted. There is a risk that other organs may have been damaged or that other areas may have been affected. If dizziness, unsteadiness of gait or impaired consciousness sets in, a physician should be consulted immediately. These symptoms indicate very severe hemorrhage and therefore very high blood loss. Since, in addition to a heart attack, a stroke is also imminent, it is advisable to contact a medical professional immediately. If breathing difficulties occur in the form of difficult breathing or breathing stops, a doctor should also be consulted immediately.
Outlook and prognosis
A bruise usually heals all by itself. Without the need for medical treatment, the tissue regenerates and the bruise disappears. However, in some cases, the healing process may cause some complications, so medical treatment is necessary. If bruises occur for no apparent reason, a doctor should be consulted urgently. Only in this way can serious diseases requiring treatment be ruled out. If a blood coagulation disorder is present and this remains without medical treatment, this can lead to internal bleeding or even death. If a bruise occurs in combination with severe pain, this should also be examined by a doctor. This is the only way to prevent infections that can occur without proper treatment. Without treatment, a bruise will darken intensely for the first three days. The degree of intensity depends on the severity of the injury. On the third or fourth day, the bruise begins to heal and it becomes lighter in color.
Home remedies and herbs for bruises
- A bath with arnica helps with injuries, bruises, bruises, is circulatory stimulating and gives a fresh appearance. For a full bath you need three tablespoons of arnica essence.
What you can do yourself
For bruises, it is usually enough to cool the affected area. By applying cooling compresses and the like as soon as possible, the vessels are constricted and the blood flow to the tissue is reduced. Alternatively, the injured area can be massaged for a few seconds immediately after the impact. In general, the area of the body with the hematoma should be spared to reduce pain and prevent further discomfort such as the formation of a severe bruise. Elevating the injured area is recommended, as is rest and, depending on the cause and location of the hematoma, the application of a pressure bandage. In the further course, heat applications such as hot showers or warm compresses, but also mud packs or mud baths can promote the healing process. Ointments and lotions with hirudin or heparin sodium as well as compresses with healing clay additionally accelerate recovery. Herbal products with ingredients such as arnica, St. John’s wort, wound clover or marigolds also help. If the bruises are still visible after a few days, a doctor should be consulted. Even in the case of bruising without external influence, self-help should be refrained from at first, as there may be a serious underlying disease.
