Just bruises or blood clots? this is the difference

Most bruises are harmless, as they are usually caused by a blunt impact that fades over time. However, be careful that at first you may think it is just a bruise, but there could be blood clots in it. Of course this condition is quite worrying. So, how to distinguish ordinary bruises from clotted blood?

What are bruises?

Bruises occur when small blood vessels (capillaries) burst and eventually cause discoloration on the surface of the skin. Generally, this condition does not cause certain symptoms, apart from changes in skin color. So, many people don't realize that they have bruises.

Bruising can occur anywhere on the body where a blunt object is hit. Even so, this condition can also arise due to trauma or fractures.

When you have a bruise, your skin will look blackish and bluish because this is a sign of a lack of oxygen in the area of the bruise. The most common bruises are those in the subcutaneous area, which is the area under the skin tissue.

What about blood clots?

Blood that clots or clots in the body is actually a natural thing to happen. Yes, this is the body's response when a part of the body experiences an open wound and then bleeds.

That way, blood will not flow continuously and prevent the body from experiencing a lack of blood. Under normal circumstances, these blood clots will disappear naturally.

But sometimes these lumps can be a problem too in the long run. For example, when blood clots form, it travels through the blood vessels to the heart and lungs. This can obstruct blood flow to the heart and lungs and have a fatal impact.

Then, what is the difference between the two?

Bruises can occur anywhere on the body and will present with the same symptoms, regardless of where the bruise appeared. Initially when bruised, the skin will show a reddish color, then turn dark purple or blue after a few hours. When the color of the bruise starts to fade, usually the associated pain will disappear.

Blood clots can also occur anywhere, but the symptoms you feel can vary depending on where the clot occurred. Example:

Blood clots in the lungs, this causes chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, and palpitations
Blood clots in the arteries of the legs, can make the feet feel cold, look pale, painful and swollen
Blood clots in the arteries of the brain, which can cause loss of vision, ability to speak, or weakening of one side of the body.

Both also have different risk factors

Bruises can happen to anyone. Some people who have a high potential for bruising are:

People who are taking blood thinners such as wafarin
People who are taking medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen
People who have a bleeding disorder
The one who had hit the hard surface
People who have thinner skin and more fragile blood vessels are like older people
Vitamin C deficiency
Experienced physical torture

Meanwhile, risk factors for blood clots can be influenced by many factors, from lifestyle factors to genetics. Namely: