Bruising can be a problem as people get older. These marks form when very small blood vessels known as capillaries near the surface of the skin are damaged, allowing blood to leak out. They change color and gradually disappear as the blood cells are reabsorbed. As we age and the skin becomes thinner, these capillaries have less protection, so even minor bumps can cause quite dramatic bruising. Many medicines make bruising worse – these include any medicines that thin the blood or prevent clotting, which are often given for very common heart conditions, in this case clopidogrel, which is an anti-clotting medicine. Today’s reader asked DR ELLIE CANNON for help with the constant bruising that occurs whenever she happens to bump into something, photo posed by model Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer – the most common type of leukemia in older people. One of the signs of this disease is bruising, because the blood cells are in disarray. Dealing with this can be difficult – medication will clearly be necessary, so this needs to be continued. However, there are some steps that may help alleviate the problem. Wearing long sleeves can help protect the skin – which is easier in winter. Making sure the diet is as nutritious as possible can help. Sometimes, as people age, they experience a loss of appetite, so it’s vital to seek out things that are tasty and appealing, whatever that may be. It’s all about getting the calories in, in these cases. Bad bruises may heal faster if a cold compress is applied for 20 minutes immediately after the injury. I am a healthy 54 year old woman – but earlier this year I was diagnosed with anterior prolapse. The doctor said it was due to menopause and there is nothing that can be done except pelvic floor exercises, which I am doing. It’s very uncomfortable and I realize it every day. It also affects intimacy. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Inside a woman’s pelvis the organs are very close together: the rectum is next to the vagina, which in turn is next to the bladder. All are held firmly in place by the scaffolding of the pelvic floor muscles.
More from Dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday…
If something weakens these muscles, such as pregnancy, menopause or age, the organs are held more loosely than before. This risks prolapse. Anterior prolapse is when the bladder bulges into the front wall of the vagina. This can cause discomfort, especially during sex, and problems with urination. Patients often describe a feeling of pressure or pulling in the pelvis. Pelvic floor exercises – which involve stretching and relaxing the muscles to strengthen them – are an initial treatment. They’re not easy to make and it’s more than pushing them every now and then. In fact, pelvic floor exercises should be done like any exercise program, regularly and following proper instructions. In some areas, women can be referred on the NHS to women’s health physiotherapy to work on these exercises properly. At best, a woman with prolapse should be recommended for a 16-week program of supervised pelvic floor muscle training, which she can then continue at home. Estrogen creams, a type of HRT used in cream form in the vagina, are also known to improve symptoms. About ten months ago, shortly after the Moderna Covid vaccine, I started feeling sick. Now I get weird leg cramps and feel exhausted all the time. Could it be the puncture? I am 70 and otherwise healthy.
Have a question for Dr Ellie?
Email [email protected] or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Dr Ellie can only answer in a general context and cannot answer individual cases or give personal answers. If you have health problems, always consult your doctor. Vaccines undoubtedly save lives, but we must also recognize that in a small number of people they will have side effects. For most people these are short lived rather than lasting almost a year. It is certainly possible that the muscle spasms and fatigue are related to the vaccine, but there may be something else going on. New fatigue and muscle spasms in a 70-year-old should be investigated by a doctor. Exhaustion or fatigue is a common symptom of a whole range of conditions ranging from a simple thyroid condition to hidden blood loss from a cancer. Muscle spasms can also be a sign of serious problems such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. It would be typical in this case to have a series of blood tests and possibly some more invasive muscle and nerve tests. Side effects of all medications, whether you can prove they were the cause or not, should all be listed. This is done through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) yellow card system. There is a website for symptoms related to Covid treatments and vaccinations (coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk). A pharmacist or doctor may also be able to help. Why do surgeries seem so quiet? I’ve had a few letters from readers asking why their doctor’s waiting room seems completely empty – despite the fact that their doctor claims to be busier than ever. I know it doesn’t seem to make much sense. But an empty waiting room doesn’t mean a quiet surgery, and it’s true that we’re busier than ever. And in most practices I know, including my own, we see most patients face-to-face. But now we operate differently. Patients don’t show up one after the other like they used to – face-to-face consultations are often interspersed with phone consultations or dealing with lots of online enquiries. Many of our most vulnerable patients avoid surgery and potential infections, especially at this time of year. All of this makes for a seemingly empty practice, but we are there and working very hard. Hancock should be in research, not in the jungle I’m surprised former Health Secretary Matt Hancock thinks it’s appropriate to star in a reality show when the Covid investigation has just started Tonight I won’t be tuning in to the new ITV series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! I’m amazed that former health secretary Matt Hancock thinks it’s appropriate to star in this reality show, but what scares me the most is the timing of it. The long-awaited Covid inquiry is underway as we speak and Ministers may finally be held to account for their fundamental mistakes in dealing with the pandemic. As far as I’m concerned, Mr Hancock should be in the dock, mainly for breaking his rules and the devastating impact of some of the restrictions he imposed – which continue to have an impact. I could also mention the terrible situation in care homes, where thousands died needlessly, and the failure to get enough PPE for medical staff. So perhaps it’s no wonder Mr Hancock would rather be on the other side of the world.
title: “Dr Ellie Cannon How Can I Avoid Big Purple Bruises On My Arms " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Richard Wright”
Bruising can be a problem as people get older. These marks form when very small blood vessels known as capillaries near the surface of the skin are damaged, allowing blood to leak out. They change color and gradually disappear as the blood cells are reabsorbed. As we age and the skin becomes thinner, these capillaries have less protection, so even minor bumps can cause quite dramatic bruising. Many medicines make bruising worse – these include any medicines that thin the blood or prevent clotting, which are often given for very common heart conditions, in this case clopidogrel, which is an anti-clotting medicine. Today’s reader asked DR ELLIE CANNON for help with the constant bruising that occurs whenever she happens to bump into something, photo posed by model Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of blood cancer – the most common type of leukemia in older people. One of the signs of this disease is bruising, because the blood cells are in disarray. Dealing with this can be difficult – medication will clearly be necessary, so this needs to be continued. However, there are some steps that may help alleviate the problem. Wearing long sleeves can help protect the skin – which is easier in winter. Making sure the diet is as nutritious as possible can help. Sometimes, as people age, they experience a loss of appetite, so it’s vital to seek out things that are tasty and appealing, whatever that may be. It’s all about getting the calories in, in these cases. Bad bruises may heal faster if a cold compress is applied for 20 minutes immediately after the injury. I am a healthy 54 year old woman – but earlier this year I was diagnosed with anterior prolapse. The doctor said it was due to menopause and there is nothing that can be done except pelvic floor exercises, which I am doing. It’s very uncomfortable and I realize it every day. It also affects intimacy. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Inside a woman’s pelvis the organs are very close together: the rectum is next to the vagina, which in turn is next to the bladder. All are held firmly in place by the scaffolding of the pelvic floor muscles.
More from Dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday…
If something weakens these muscles, such as pregnancy, menopause or age, the organs are held more loosely than before. This risks prolapse. Anterior prolapse is when the bladder bulges into the front wall of the vagina. This can cause discomfort, especially during sex, and problems with urination. Patients often describe a feeling of pressure or pulling in the pelvis. Pelvic floor exercises – which involve stretching and relaxing the muscles to strengthen them – are an initial treatment. They’re not easy to make and it’s more than pushing them every now and then. In fact, pelvic floor exercises should be done like any exercise program, regularly and following proper instructions. In some areas, women can be referred on the NHS to women’s health physiotherapy to work on these exercises properly. At best, a woman with prolapse should be recommended for a 16-week program of supervised pelvic floor muscle training, which she can then continue at home. Estrogen creams, a type of HRT used in cream form in the vagina, are also known to improve symptoms. About ten months ago, shortly after the Moderna Covid vaccine, I started feeling sick. Now I get weird leg cramps and feel exhausted all the time. Could it be the puncture? I am 70 and otherwise healthy.
Have a question for Dr Ellie?
Email [email protected] or write to Health, The Mail on Sunday, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT. Dr Ellie can only answer in a general context and cannot answer individual cases or give personal answers. If you have health problems, always consult your doctor. Vaccines undoubtedly save lives, but we must also recognize that in a small number of people they will have side effects. For most people these are short lived rather than lasting almost a year. It is certainly possible that the muscle spasms and fatigue are related to the vaccine, but there may be something else going on. New fatigue and muscle spasms in a 70-year-old should be investigated by a doctor. Exhaustion or fatigue is a common symptom of a whole range of conditions ranging from a simple thyroid condition to hidden blood loss from a cancer. Muscle spasms can also be a sign of serious problems such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. It would be typical in this case to have a series of blood tests and possibly some more invasive muscle and nerve tests. Side effects of all medications, whether you can prove they were the cause or not, should all be listed. This is done through the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) yellow card system. There is a website for symptoms related to Covid treatments and vaccinations (coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk). A pharmacist or doctor may also be able to help. Why do surgeries seem so quiet? I’ve had a few letters from readers asking why their doctor’s waiting room seems completely empty – despite the fact that their doctor claims to be busier than ever. I know it doesn’t seem to make much sense. But an empty waiting room doesn’t mean a quiet surgery, and it’s true that we’re busier than ever. And in most practices I know, including my own, we see most patients face-to-face. But now we operate differently. Patients don’t show up one after the other like they used to – face-to-face consultations are often interspersed with phone consultations or dealing with lots of online enquiries. Many of our most vulnerable patients avoid surgery and potential infections, especially at this time of year. All of this makes for a seemingly empty practice, but we are there and working very hard. Hancock should be in research, not in the jungle I’m surprised former Health Secretary Matt Hancock thinks it’s appropriate to star in a reality show when the Covid investigation has just started Tonight I won’t be tuning in to the new ITV series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! I’m amazed that former health secretary Matt Hancock thinks it’s appropriate to star in this reality show, but what scares me the most is the timing of it. The long-awaited Covid inquiry is underway as we speak and Ministers may finally be held to account for their fundamental mistakes in dealing with the pandemic. As far as I’m concerned, Mr Hancock should be in the dock, mainly for breaking his rules and the devastating impact of some of the restrictions he imposed – which continue to have an impact. I could also mention the terrible situation in care homes, where thousands died needlessly, and the failure to get enough PPE for medical staff. So perhaps it’s no wonder Mr Hancock would rather be on the other side of the world.
