The Doc Replies

Our expert answers your medical questions

What causes you to bruise easily?

Easy bruising becomes more common in old age. This is because the skin gets thinner and the blood vessels are less cushioned from injury. Bruises occur when a bump to the skin causes capillaries, tiny blood vessels near the skin’s surface, to break. As the blood leaks out, you get that dark purple or grey mark. Bruises fade as the body reabsorbs the blood.

Some medicines cause you to bruise more easily, like Aspirin, blood thinners like Warfarin or apixaban and anti-platelets like Clopidogrel; and some topical steroids can thin the skin. However, don’t stop taking any prescribed medication without consulting your GP first.

Most bruises are harmless and will eventually fade but easy bruising can sometimes be a sign of something more serious.

Bruising is more concerning when there is no reason for it and you get a lot of bruising alongside prolonged bleeding, like heavy periods, or if it’s difficult to stop a small cut from bleeding. If bruising starts after starting a new medication that can also be a concern.

It’s important to check if people have a family history of easy bruising or bleeding as blood clotting defects like Haemophilia can run in families. A GP can do a blood test to check clotting factors or platelets as you can bruise easily if you have a low platelet count.

What is Phantosmia?

Phantosmia is when you think you smell something when there’s no identifiable stimulus. Unfortunately, the smell can often be an unpleasant one and it can be quite distressing. An altered sense of smell might also affect the ability to smell that food has gone off or there may be a gas leak. It can have a few different causes but often we don’t actually know the cause. Phantosmia can be triggered by migraine, a head injury or a respiratory tract infection, with infection of the sinuses. Sometime you can get an odd smell before having a seizure and it can also be a symptom of Parkinson’s and Covid-19. While a complete loss of smell was a common Covid-19 symptom, some people reported an altered sense of smell.

If you experience Phantosmia and don’t have a cold or sinus infection you should see your GP.

The Doc Replies

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