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Bruises - Treatment and Prevention

How to Reduce the Pain and Speed the Fading of Bruises

May 3, 2009 Nikki Yeh

Whether you're playing a sport or experience a fluke fall, injuries and bangs to the body can cause obvious bruises. These tips will help treat and prevent these marks.

The colour of bruises can be pretty unsightly. Bruises occur when blood leaks out of your blood vessels. As a result, blood seeps through the surrounding tissue. According to Reader's Digest's 1,801 Home Remedies: Trustworthy Treatments for Everyday Health Problems, it takes 10 to 14 days for bruises to fade on their own. However, these tips will increase the speed at which bruises heal.

Ice

As soon as you experience a hit on your body part, ice it ASAP. Ice helps the blood vessels cool down and, as a result, causes less blood to leak out. For a quick at-home ice pack, take a package of frozen vegetables out of your freezer and apply it to the injured area. You can also run a washcloth under cold water and then apply the cloth onto the affected area.

Also, try making your own ice pack with this method:

Fill a resealable bag with around two cups of water and 1/3 rubbing alcohol.
Close it and put it in the freezer.

Heat it Up

Reader's Digest also suggests that you use a heating pad on your bruise. This will help clear away any "pooled blood." Try using a heating pad several times a day for 20 minutes on top of the bruise. If you don't have a heating pad at home, that's not a problem. Instead apply a warm compress over the area; even a hot water bottle will suffice.

Natural Health Supplements

Talk to your local health store about the use of bromelain. Bromelain, says Reader's Digest, is "an enzyme found in pineapples... [and] "digests" proteins involved in causing inflammation." The source suggests taking 250 to 500 milligrams of this enzyme daily, but do consult your health care practitioner first to be sure that it doesn't contradict with any medications.

Vitamin K

While you're at the health store, talk to the sales associate about vitamin K cream. Vitamin K cream can help your body with bruises, as our bodies already need vitamin K to help in blood clotting

Preventing Bruises

Luckily there are ways you can help your body prevent bruising. Try out these tips:

Vitamin C makes the capillary walls much stronger, which means they're less likely to leak blood and create bruises. So take vitamin C supplements or eat foods rich in vitamin C, such as peppers and citrus fruits. You can also get vitamin C through flavonoids such as carrots and apricots.
Eat foods rich in vitamin K like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and leafy greens.

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