These conditions combined can lead to coagulopathy (bruising and bleeding even with the slightest trauma). The excessive alcohol in the bloodstream becomes too much for the liver to process, posing a risk of generalized tonic-clonic seizures. We also have the risk of alcohol-induced seizures, which are common during binge drinking. Excessive drinking may also lead to an alcoholic blackout, a condition reached when the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is over 0.16%. This increased blood flow means more blood might escape the vessel if it ruptures.
Alcohol addiction and heavy drinking can cause vitamin deficiencies, which may increase bruising
- The swelling of cells is referred to as cellular or interstitial edema, a condition where excess fluid accumulates in the body’s tissues.
- While throwing up can make you feel miserable, it is one of your body’s self-defense mechanisms to remove excess toxins from the alcohol consumed.
- If you take one of these drugs and you’ve noticed bruises, check with your doctor.
As a result, you may find yourself having frequent sore throat pains, catching colds and infections more often. Prolonged heavy alcohol use can also lead to nutritional deficiencies that compromise platelet production. Folic acid and vitamin B12 are nutrients vital for blood cell development, including platelets. When alcohol consumption interferes with the absorption or metabolism of these vitamins, the bone marrow’s ability to produce platelets can be impaired. Dry skin is a common problem and although things like sun exposure, cold winds, and low-fat diets can dry out your skin, your choice of beverage can also strip your skin of moisture.
This may come as a surprise to you, as drinking moderately, particularly when it’s red wine, is often said to protect your heart due to its antioxidant content. The disconnect arises because, at higher intakes, alcohol acts as a pro-oxidant, it actually generates free radicals rather than neutralizing their effects. This aids in avoiding any harmful repercussions and guarantees a better living. Restrict your alcohol consumption to one or two drinks each day for the sake of your health.
Can alcohol-related bruises indicate a vitamin deficiency?
This dilation can make blood vessels more susceptible to rupture, resulting in bruising. Additionally, alcohol can interfere with the body’s natural clotting mechanisms, further exacerbating the likelihood and severity of bruising. When alcohol impairs liver function, it decreases these proteins, increasing the likelihood of bruises after drinking alcohol. Too much alcohol intake increases the likelihood of bruising but leaves your body incapable of healing and clotting blood. Be responsible in your levels of intake, one drink a day for women, two for men. Do not binge drink as this can hurt the liver and vessels Sober living home in the blood and increase all the other risks of bruising.
Why Drinking Alcohol Can Cause Bruising
If you have cirrhosis from alcohol liver damage, you’re also more likely to bleed and bruise easily. Your skin also thins and loses some of the fat that would otherwise protect your blood vessels from impacts. Some herbs and supplements can cause you to bleed more easily, either when used alone or in combination with other medications.
A review of the literature on intramuscular hemorrhage in cirrhotic patients suggested that alcohol is the common risk factor. We should therefore always include muscle hematoma in the differential diagnosis of acute anemia in liver, especially alcoholic, cirrhosis. A bruise is a discolored mark on your skin that forms when blood vessels under your skin break and leak. They can be caused by several things, such as an injury, certain disorders, or certain medicines.
After all, heavy alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious injuries from falls, burns, and motor vehicle crashes. One of the diagnostic criteria that points toward an alcohol use disorder is continuing to drink, even in the face of consequences. These consequences can include relationship problems, difficulty fulfilling duties at work or home, or a worsening of health problems. To summarize, heavy drinking can cause liver damage, which leads to easy bruising through multiple mechanisms. The damage to the liver impairs its ability to filter toxins and produce clotting proteins, affecting blood vessel health and function.
If you’re having nosebleeds for no reason, if your gums bleed a lot after you brush or floss, or if small cuts or scrapes seem to bleed heavily, call your doctor. Right after a tattoo, it’s normal for your skin around your tattoo to be red, irritated, swollen, warm, and sometimes bruised. These skin reactions are part of the healing process and usually last about 3-7 days. Additionally, alcohol can cause dehydration, leaving the body feeling fatigued. There are various reasons why alcohol leads to these issues, but a major contributing factor is that drinking alcohol causes dehydration, which in turn contributes to cell damage and swelling. This close link between alcohol and swelling underscores the importance of monitoring intake and staying properly hydrated.
- Therefore, it is essential to be cautious and avoid situations where injuries may occur when consuming alcohol.
- For example birth control pills had a mild effect on clotting factors but if you are taking them in combination with alcohol this can intensify their effect and cause you to bruise.
- This influences the long-term production of clotting factors and places the sufferer at an enhanced risk of bruises.
- This gene mutation is more common among people of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean descent.
Changes in your skin
If you’re concerned about alcohol-induced bruising, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Limiting alcohol consumption, staying hydrated, and maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamin K can help support your body’s ability to clot blood effectively. If you notice excessive bruising or bruising without a clear cause, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying health issues. Chronic alcohol consumption can damage the liver, leading to liver disease and affecting blood clotting, which results in easier bruising and bleeding. It is important to note that while the bruises themselves are not dangerous, they can indicate underlying health issues related to alcohol consumption. If a person notices frequent or unexplained bruising, it may be a sign of alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder.
In other cases, an underlying health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease, may need addressing. People taking medication who notice an increase in bleeding or bruising should consider asking a doctor whether their medication can cause bleeding. Some people bruise more easily than others, and the bruising can take longer to heal. You may get a bruise from a bump or injury to the skin or the http://www.trans-tec.cl/alcoholic-ketoacidosis/ tissues beneath the skin. Binge drinking alcohol can be related to alcohol use disorders or mental health conditions. Dizziness can result from alcohol intoxication, and intoxication can also lead to injuries that cause bruises.
If you notice that you does alcohol make you bruise easier have increased bruising, do not stop taking your medications. This is called ‘alcohol flush reaction’ and it happens when your body is unable to fully digest all the alcohol you’ve consumed. This means that the toxins in alcohol, including acetaldehyde, can build up in your body. In the long-term, these vessels can over-dilate, leading to spider veins on the skin. Keeping yourself hydrated is critical to avoid and stop bruising from alcohol.
Alcoholic face
If you bleed a lot, you may need to get fluids through a vein or a blood transfusion. Get more of SELF’s great service journalism delivered right to your inbox. If your doctor suspects domestic abuse, you may be referred to a social worker.