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Why do I bruise so easily? Could it be something serious?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sant-rayn-pasricha-9134">Sant-Rayn Pasricha</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-822">Walter and Eliza Hall Institute</a></em></p> <p>After a bump, we can expect a bruise. But what if we find ourselves bruising without any noticeable cause? What might be behind it? Should we worry?</p> <p>Around <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20942847/">18%</a> of adults report easy bruising. As haematologists (blood doctors), we are often asked for advice when people are worried they might bruise too easily.</p> <p>Here is how we think about the problem.</p> <h2>What the blood does</h2> <p>Firstly, it helps to understand the complex, carefully balanced systems in our body that protect us from bleeding.</p> <p>Blood flows as a liquid through our blood vessels, carrying red cells with their cargo of oxygen and immune cells to defend us from infections, to our brain, muscles and internal organs. Blood contains ingredients that are carefully balanced to protect us from bleeding if we are injured, while simultaneously minimising the risk of dangerous blood clot formation.</p> <p>If a “puncture” occurs in a blood vessel, blood can rapidly thicken to form a jellylike clot, to minimise blood loss until the vessel repairs itself. To achieve this, tiny cell fragments called <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/platelet-information.html#:%7E:text=Platelets%2C%20or%20thrombocytes%2C%20are%20small,white%20blood%20cells%2C%20and%20platelets.">platelets</a> that circulate in the blood bind to the damaged blood vessel wall.</p> <p>A host of proteins (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507850/">clotting factors</a>), attracted by the platelets and damaged vessel wall, then combine to thicken the blood at the site and form a blood clot. Like all blood cells, platelets are made in the bone marrow, while clotting factors are mostly made in the liver.</p> <p>So what can go wrong? If we have a problem affecting either our clotting factors, our platelets, or our blood vessel walls, we can find ourselves developing easy bruising or even problematic bleeding.</p> <h2>Could it be a problem?</h2> <p>In many patients who report easy bruising, haematologists can’t find any particular cause.</p> <p>Blood doctors are usually more cautious when a person has a constellation of problems related to bleeding. For example, a disorder is more likely if the bruising is widespread with <a href="https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/ss/slideshow-bruise-guide">large bruises</a>, is accompanied by frequent <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13464-nosebleed-epistaxis">nosebleeds</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/blooddisorders/women/symptoms.html">heavy periods</a>, problems with bleeding after major dental work, surgery or childbirth – or even <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30017659/">spontaneous serious bleeding</a> into joints or into the brain.</p> <p>A few simple tests can help us figure out if there is likely to be a serious problem.</p> <p>The first we would perform for any person reporting easy bruising is a <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/full-blood-count">full blood count</a>. This will include a measurement of the platelet count and reliably show if the platelet numbers are normal.</p> <p>Our platelets can be reduced for a number of reasons – either because they are not being produced in the bone marrow appropriately or in sufficient quantity, or because they are being removed from the circulation too quickly.</p> <p>The latter scenario happens in a common condition called <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537240/#:%7E:text=Immune%20thrombocytopenic%20purpura%20(ITP)%20is%20an%20autoimmune%20disease%20characterized%20by,autoantibodies%20sensitize%20the%20circulating%20platelets.">immune thrombocytopenic purpura</a>. This condition can affect children or adults out of the blue or following a viral infection. Patients can develop severe reductions in their platelet count and come out in a fine rash, which is actually small bruises.</p> <p>In children, it is usually a short-term condition that recovers by itself. In adults, severe cases may need treatment with medicines that suppress the immune system or boost platelet production. Sometimes adults need surgery to remove the spleen.</p> <h2>Problems with clotting proteins and diseases</h2> <p>Clotting factors – the proteins mentioned earlier – can be affected by a range of inherited or acquired causes.</p> <p>Some people are born with low levels of important factors that help the blood clot when it needs to control bleeding.</p> <p><a href="https://www.hemophilia.org/bleeding-disorders-a-z/types/hemophilia-a">Haemophilia A</a> is seen almost exclusively in men and is caused by a genetic reduction in Factor VIII (a key clotting factor). Both men and women can have <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/vwd/facts.html">von Willebrand Disease</a>, which involves reduced production or function of another key clotting factor.</p> <p>Liver disease can also cause clotting problems. That’s why the second test we perform in any person reporting easy bruising is to measure clotting function. If we find an abnormality, we’ll follow up by testing the levels of key clotting factors.</p> <h2>Problems with blood vessels</h2> <p>Though rare today, severe vitamin C deficiency used to more commonly cause easy bruising and gum bleeding (“<a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/scurvy">scurvy</a>”) and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/ss/slideshow-why-bruise-easily">deficiencies</a> can still cause bruising.</p> <p>Several diseases can cause blood vessel thinning or inflammation, including <a href="https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/HenochSchonlein_Purpura/">Henoch-Schonlein purpura</a> – an autoimmune condition that results in leg and thigh bruising.</p> <p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/senile-purpura">Older people</a> can have fragile skin and blood vessels, making bruising more likely.</p> <h2>Medicines and supplements</h2> <p>We always ask patients about their medication and alternative medicine use.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/low-dose-aspirin/side-effects-of-low-dose-aspirin/#:%7E:text=Because%20aspirin%20helps%20to%20stop,an%20injury%20or%20a%20cut.">Aspirin</a> – often prescribed to prevent platelets from worsening the risk of cardiac disease or stroke – can also reduce platelet function.</p> <p>Medications like clopidogrel (to stop problem clotting) and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen or others taken for pain and inflammation) can <a href="https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nonsteroidal-antiinflammatory-drugs-nsaids-beyond-the-basics">reduce platelet function</a>. <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029541">Blood thinners</a> such as warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban, prescribed to people with a higher risk of clots leading to stroke, can affect bruising.</p> <p>People using oral or inhaled <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531462/#:%7E:text=Oral%20Administration&amp;text=Long%2Dterm%20oral%20corticosteroid%20therapy,sclerosis%2C%20organ%20transplantation%2C%20etc.">corticosteroids</a> for a prolonged period (such as for chronic illnesses) may notice increased bruising because of thinning of the skin and weakened blood vessel walls.</p> <p>Over-the-counter supplements including <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760599/">gingko and vitamin E</a> can also promote easy bruising, as can some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5035804/">antidepressant</a> medications.</p> <h2>Questions of abuse and trauma</h2> <p>Finally, blood vessels can be damaged by trauma. Clinicians should carefully ask if the person has experienced any injuries, including a sensitive <a href="https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2016/0215/p279.html">consideration</a> of child abuse or intimate partner violence.</p> <p>While there are many medical conditions that can cause easy bruising, if you don’t have a strong history of other forms of excessive bleeding, and your blood counts and clotting function tests are normal, it shouldn’t be a cause for concern.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/207736/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sant-rayn-pasricha-9134">Sant-Rayn Pasricha</a>, Division Head, Population Health and Immunity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/walter-and-eliza-hall-institute-822">Walter and Eliza Hall Institute</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-bruise-so-easily-could-it-be-something-serious-207736">original article</a>.</em></p>

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Worrying photo sparks fresh concerns for Queen Elizabeth's health

<p>The public has seen their first glimpse of Queen Elizabeth in almost 8 weeks as she appointed Britain's new prime minister in an official engagement.</p> <p>Rather than taking place at Buckingham Palace as per tradition, the ceremony was held inside the green-carpeted drawn room at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. </p> <p>The monarch was supported by her walking cane as she invited Liz Truss, Her Majesty's 15th prime minister in her 70-year-reign, to form a new government.</p> <p>Despite Her Majesty looking lively and happy during the meeting, people were quick to spot the large bruise on the Queen's hand, reigniting concerns about the monarch's health. </p> <p>ITV's royal editor Chris Ship said the bruising was a sign of changing times in the Queen's advancing years.</p> <p>"I'm no medic but it could be some form of cannula that the Queen's had, we are guessing," Ship told <em>Today</em>.</p> <p>"Buckingham Palace never tells us about her ongoing medical conditions. She's 96 years old. A frail lady, let's be clear. And queen of advancing age.</p> <p> </p> <p>"We're going to get used to the constitutional diary having to be changed to suit the needs of an ageing monarch."</p> <p>The decision to call outgoing leader Boris Johnson, and his replacement, to Balmoral was taken due to the Queen's comfort.</p> <p>Reports claim that the Queen has been advised against excessive travelling, having reportedly endured "a change in the past few weeks" in her mobility, <a title="The Telegraph" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2022/09/06/queens-balmoral-audience-liz-truss-sign-changing-times/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Telegraph</a> UK reports.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"> <div id="outbrain_widget_0" class="OUTBRAIN" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" data-src="//honey.nine.com.au/royals/queen-elizabeth-health-fears-renewed-after-bruised-hand-seen-in-meeting-with-prime-minister-at-balmoral/22de3833-5f72-4a1b-8ebd-072180acbf68" data-widget-id="AR_8" data-external-id="e10677520a27f6286db19824e4a585aa" data-ob-mark="true" data-browser="safari" data-os="macintel" data-dynload="" data-idx="0"> <div class="ob-widget ob-grid-layout AR_8 ob-cmn-AR_8" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative;" data-dynamic-truncate="true"> <div class="ob-widget-header" style="box-sizing: content-box; margin: 24px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: bold; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; display: flex; -webkit-box-pack: justify; justify-content: space-between; -webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; color: #303030;"> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Caring

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Lynette’s former colleague “saw bruises” on her throat

<p dir="ltr">Lynette Dawson’s former colleague has claimed she saw bruises on the nurse's throat before she disappeared 40 years ago. </p> <p dir="ltr">Chris Dawson has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Lynette, who went missing from the family home in Sydney's Northern Beaches in January 1982. </p> <p dir="ltr">Annette Leary, Lynette’s former colleague, told the NSW Supreme Court that she had asked Lynette about the bruises on her neck after the pair had attended a couple’s counselling session. </p> <p dir="ltr">"She said that Chris had grabbed her throat and shook her a little and said 'if this doesn't work, I'm getting rid of you...I am only doing it once'," Leary told the court, Nine News reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">A few days after their conversation, Lynette’s contract with the hospital ended following a phone call from Dawson saying she needed time away.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Lyn had gone away, she needed some time out and he didn't know when she was coming back,” centre director Barbara Cruise recalled at court.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cruise told the judges that she was doubtful that Lynette had left on her own accord and looked up her mother’s phone number before raising the alarm. </p> <p dir="ltr">It comes as the former babysitter, who became Dawson's mistress and then his wife, has taken the stand at his murder trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">The woman, who has been known only as JC throughout the high-profile trial, first met Dawson in 1980 when he was her Year 11 sports teacher at Cromer High School.</p> <p dir="ltr">The following year, the teenager had moved in with Dawson, his wife Lynette, and their two children to work as their live-in babysitter.</p> <p dir="ltr">She told the judges that Dawson had driven her to a pub in western Sydney, claiming to have wanted to hire a hitman to kill Lynette. </p> <p dir="ltr">"I went inside to get a hitman to kill Lyn and then I decided I couldn't do it because innocent people could be hurt,” JC said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The conversation was kept private until 1990, when Dawson and JC split - she rejects claims that she made it up during the divorce and custody battle. </p> <p dir="ltr">The trial continues. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

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"Incomprehensible and disgusting": Sydney grandma comes home to family bruised and battered

<p><strong>WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES</strong></p> <p><span>A Sydney-bas</span><span>ed grandma who checked out of Hornsby Hospital last week, has been left with horrific injuries including two black eyes and cuts down her arm. </span></p> <p>The 83-year-old who is referred to as Mrs B suffers from dementia and has no recollection of what happened to her inside of the hospital. </p> <p>However when her loved ones came to pick her up after a routine assessment, they were left stunned by her body and face which was covered in bruises and her left arm that had large cuts. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838164/hornsby-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/50a03cfcd585401db2c9342ed4b54b39" /></p> <p>2GB’s host Ray Hadley has known Mrs B for over 20 years and was the one who broke the story about his good friend, saying nobody from Sydney's northwest hospital contacted her family to let them know of the elderly woman’s condition. </p> <p>He said the hospital told the family five days after she was released that the injuries came from two falls Mrs B suffered. </p> <p>News.com.au reports that Mrs B was also taking blood thinners and other medication that can bring out bruising.</p> <p>The explanation did not go down well with Hadley who blasted the hospital’s explanation on the show Tuesday morning, labelling it “incomprehensible and disgusting”.</p> <p>“When you see the photos you’ll be aware that she must have fallen from the first or second storey onto the ground floor,” he said. </p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838165/hornsby-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2183f745d2004669a60156a753f3e249" /></p> <p>“She couldn’t have fallen out of bed to sustain the injuries she sustained.</p> <p>“You don’t get two black eyes, bruising on your neck and skin stripped bare from your arm from falling. That doesn’t happen.</p> <p>“Somebody at that hospital knows what happened, because it can’t possibly be the result of a fall.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838166/hornsby-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f4e75545cf2842a0a00c88445b850c05" /></p> <p>Mr Hadley does not suggest staff at the hospital mistreated Mrs B, but said that someone needed to be held to account.</p> <p>He contacted NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard who demanded the hospital investigate.</p>

News

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Tragic final moments of 7-month-old baby with bruising revealed

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p><em>Photo used in hero is stock image, not image of child mentioned in story</em></p> <p>The moments that led up to a 7-month-old girl dying who was found with unexplained bruising has been disputed by the last two people who saw her alive.</p> <p>The baby was in the care of her mother's partner when she left for around 40 minutes before lunch on December 4th, 2015.</p> <p>The partner, baby and mother cannot be named for legal reasons.</p> <p>The partner had taken ice the night before the child died and he says the mother had left to pick up cannabis that she chopped up minutes before her child died.</p> <p>The pair's relationship was rocky and the night before the baby died, the partner had kicked the mother out. However, he let her back as he felt sorry for her and she returned.</p> <p>Whether Family and Community Service case workers should have stepped in earlier to prevent the baby's death is also being investigating.</p> <p>Numerous reports had been made to FACS, including a report where the mother was driving drugged for long stints with her other child in the car.</p> <p>On December 4th, the mother said she heard her baby "laughing" on a phone call with her partner. </p> <p>Around 10 minutes after she returned home, she found the baby with froth coming out of her nose and screamed she wasn't breathing.</p> <p>"I knew she was gone already," she later told police.</p> <p>Moments before the baby's death have been detailed inconsistently in two police interviews by the partner and contradict the mother's account.</p> <p>He originally told police "I gave her a bottle, she drank a little bit ... and I came back 20 minutes later," but no food or liquids were found in her body.</p> <p>In his first police interview, the partner said he was washing the dishes and vacuuming while the baby slept, but in the second interview claimed he was downstairs cleaning the fish tank.</p> <p>The afternoon after the baby's death, he sent messages to the mother saying he couldn't handle life anymore and that he wished she'd never left the baby with him.</p> <p>"I wish I could give my life to that beautiful little girl," the court heard he texted her.</p> <p>A post-mortem of the baby could not ascertain the cause of death, but Child Protection Unit Head at Westmead Children's Hospital Dr Susan Marks suspected "vigorous shaking" may have caused the head to whiplash and contributed to her death.</p> <p>The week-long inquest continues before NSW Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott.</p> </div> </div> </div>

News

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“That bruising is next level”: Erin Molan shares updates on her injury

<p>Sports presenter Erin Molan has updated her fans on her injury, which occurred after an accident that she jokingly blamed on <em>Married at First Sight.</em></p> <p>Molan fractured her hand after accidentally falling down the stairs and showcased the big and bright bruises on her Instagram story.</p> <p>She captioned the snap, saying: “That bruising is next level.”</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" class="post_image_group" src="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/big-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" alt="" data-asset_id="27426278" data-url-thumb="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/thumb-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-url-thumb-small="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/thumb_small-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-url-thumb-big-scaled="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/thumb_big_scaled-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-url-large="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/large-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-url-big="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/big-Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-url-original="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/27426278/Screen%20Shot%202019-04-18%20at%2011.27.59%20am.png" data-filename="Screen Shot 2019-04-18 at 11.27.59 am.png" data-is-gif="false" data-post-id="312888128&quot;" /><em> Source: Instagram</em></p> <p>The sports presenter temporarily had to put work on hold following the accident, which she jokingly blamed on popular reality TV show <em>Married at First Sight</em>.</p> <p>On Friday, the mother-of-one revealed her injury in an Instagram post, confirming that she would be off air for a few days. </p> <p>“For those asking... no Friday Night Footy for me this week... or News or 2GB/4BC or Jonesy&amp;Amanda or Sunday Footy Show.</p> <p>“The issue not so much the fracture itself... but the fairly INTENSE pain killers that make bosses of live tv/live radio very nervous indeed. Back on deck Monday.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwJt6IIlIiK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwJt6IIlIiK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_control" target="_blank">A post shared by Erin Molan (@erin_molan)</a> on Apr 12, 2019 at 3:17am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The 36-year-old told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/inglis-facing-up-to-painful-reality-but-has-good-people-on-his-side-20190413-p51dwt.html" target="_blank"><em>Sydney Morning Herald</em></a> that she fractured her arm after she tripped at home while rushing down the stairs to catch the popular TV show.</p> <p>“I knew MAFS was dangerous, but had no idea it would put me in hospital,” she said.</p> <p>“The real tragedy in all of this is that I missed [MAFS stars] Jess and Dan on the couch while I spent 10 hours in emergency on Monday night.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNuK3cFcht/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNuK3cFcht/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">The saddest, most uncool way to break your hand... as revealed by @dannyweidler 🤦‍♀️ I only had 10 seconds left in the commercial break and didn’t want to pause and miss following the live tweeting... major part of the entertainment obviously) At least I’m safe until next season starts... 🤷‍♀️🙅‍♀️ #mafs #danger #slinkyslide #🤦‍♀️</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/erin_molan/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Erin Molan</a> (@erin_molan) on Apr 13, 2019 at 4:36pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>In a follow-up Instagram post, Molan revealed how she did not want to miss a moment from the reality program. </p> <p>“I only had 10 seconds left in the commercial break … At least I’m safe until next season starts.</p> <p>“The saddest, most uncool way to break your hand.” </p>

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Dark bruising sparks concerns for the Queen’s health

<p>Concerns over the Queen’s health have been raised after fans spotted deep bruising on the 92-year-old’s hands in a recent photograph.</p> <p>During a meeting with the King and Queen of Jordan, the monarch revealed purple-pink blemishes sparking speculation over her wellbeing.</p> <p>The Palace refused to comment on the reason behind the marks.</p> <p>The bruising could have been caused by a medical condition called peripheral cyanosis, which occurs when there are low oxygen levels in the red blood cells.</p> <p>But the discolouration could also be a sign of an underlying condition.</p> <p>Bruising can be caused by a multitude of things such as artery problems, beta blockers, blood pressure medicine or blood clots restricting the blood supply.</p> <p>While the bruising may be due to cold temperatures, that seems unlikely as the area has recently seen a bout of warm weather.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <p dir="ltr">Today The Queen, with The Princess Royal, hosted Their Majesties The King and Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, <a href="https://twitter.com/KingAbdullahII?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KingAbdullahII</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/QueenRania?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QueenRania</a>, and their son The Crown Prince at Buckingham Palace. <a href="https://t.co/jMjdm5na8h">pic.twitter.com/jMjdm5na8h</a></p> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1101127897014849536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">28 February 2019</a></blockquote> <p>It could be that the Queen has always had the marks, but as she wears gloves during public appearances, it hasn’t been noticed until now.</p> <p>But Twitter went into a frenzy after the photograph was revealed, with many noticing the blemishes right away.</p> <p>“I love keeping up with Queen Elizabeth II but I’m concerned,” said one user. “Why does she have such a terrible bruise on her left hand?”</p> <p>Another user was the voice of reason, saying “the lady is 92” and that “at that age any little knock unfortunately turns into what can look like severe bruises".</p> <p>Speaking to the<em> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/auhome/index.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>,</em> medical expert Emma Hammett said that it’s possible “this serious looking bruise resulted from a relatively minor injury".</p> <p>Ms Hammett said that older people are susceptible to bruising as the tissue underneath their already-thin skin is fragile.</p>

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Why some people bruise easier than others

<p>When it comes to our bodies, we can thank our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so on for whatever strange bodily quirks we inherit. Some may win the genetic lottery and have smooth, even, flawless skin, while others may find themselves more likely to develop wrinkles, blemishes and other unwanted skin woes. The same can be said for bruises – some of us are seemingly impervious to them, while others can expect big, black and blue marks from even the gentlest impact. Unfortunately, as we get older, more and more of us tend to enter the latter category.</p> <p>“As we age, our skin loses a protective layer of fatty tissue under the skin,” Dr Ryan Harvey from <a href="https://housecalldoctor.com.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">House Call Doctor</span></strong></a> tells Over60. “In turn, this makes our blood vessels more likely to rupture if we suffer from a bump or fall. The result is more frequent bruising, that may also take longer to heal after the age of 60.”</p> <p>Despite all over-60s being more prone to bruising with age, there are still certain factors which may indicate a higher risk.</p> <p>“In our later years of life, bruising is often related to other health conditions,” Dr Harvey reveals. “For example, people on blood thinners and other medications may be more susceptible to bruising and haemorrhaging. Older patients who are a falls risk due to mobility issues may also sustain a greater number of bruises. Being aware of the health conditions that may lead to bruising will help people avoid painful lumps and bumps.”</p> <p>Thankfully, there are a number of steps we can all take to reduce our chances of developing bruises – or, at the very least, reduce their length and severity. Aside from reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and treating tissue and blood disorders, Dr Harvey has one other suggestion. “Certain supplements may strengthen our bodies to promote better healing,” he explains. “For example, taking a daily multivitamin may prevent vitamin deficiencies in older age and help bruises to heal more quickly.”</p> <p>What natural treatments do you use to reduce the appearance of bruises? Share your tips with us in the comments below.</p>

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