YOU Docs Daily
Bruising Easily With Age
Q. My doctor put me on 81 mg of daily aspirin after I developed a blood clot in my lung. Since then, I get small, purply bruises on my arms and legs almost daily. I’m 66. Is this dangerous? My doctor doesn’t seem concerned.
-- Karen, via e-mail
A. Like gray hair, wrinkles, and the ability to remember your second-grade teacher's name but not how you banged your shin this week, it’s normal to bruise more frequently as you age. Your skin gets thinner and your capillaries (itsy-bitsy blood vessels) become more fragile, so a tiny bump can cause a bruise. Yep, aspirin's blood-thinning effects intensify this, but thinner blood that doesn't clump up and clot easily is what you need and what your doc is after.
That said, alert your physician if the bruising increases. Normally, frequent bruising can signal more serious conditions, including leukemia and other blood disorders. But yours is likely a not-unexpected result of a treatment that’s otherwise good for you.
