Broken Blood Vessel
How Dangerous Is A Broken Blood Vessel?
We will likely experience a broken blood vessel quite often over the course of a life time. Almost always smaller vessels are involved and the symptoms we experience are for the most part bleeding from cuts, or bruises indicating a broken blood vessel lies under the skin. At times however, the effects can be more serious, indeed much more serious, as when a major blood vessel is damaged and there is a significant loss of blood from internal bleeding, a condition which may go unnoticed at first.
The Cardiovascular System - Before getting too far into cause and effect, it would be worthwhile to take a look at our cardiovascular system. It is the cardiovascular system which guides the circulation of blood throughout the body, and consists of the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. A broken blood vessel can, under certain circumstances, mean there is a problem with one or more of these cardiovascular components. It is the arteries which conduct blood away from the heart. These vessels branch out in to progressively smaller blood vessels, the arterioles. The arteries and arterioles carry nutrients to the bodily tissues. Here, the nutrient and absorbing functions of the blood are carried out throughout a system of capillaries. In the capillaries, substances such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and wastes are exchanged between the blood and cellular fluids. The capillaries are microscopic channels having very thin walls through which substances can be exchanged between the blood stream and the tissues.
From the capillaries, blood is collected into blood vessels called venules, and then travels through a series of progressively larger diameter veins, back to the heart. The arteries and veins are very elastic vessels, and generally very strong, but it is easy to see that a broken blood vessel is a major artery or vein, not to mention the heart itself, the situation can become very serious indeed. Note that veins and arteries channel the blood only and are not actively involved in the process of circulation. Circulation is the result of the pumping action of the heart. The efficiency at which blood circulates however, is enhanced somewhat by the actions of valves within the system of veins. These valves keep the blood from flowing "backwards".
How A Broken Blood Vessel Happens – A broken blood vessel can result from a disease, which has caused the walls of the blood vessel to weaken then rupture, or trauma where a blow or sharp object causes the vessel to break. Breakage also can be caused by certain medications or specific dosages of medications. Age is sometimes a factor, as the skin becomes less flexible and bruising from bumps or falls happens more frequently. Symptoms most often appear in the form of a bruise, but can also be present in the form of a blood spot and even as a rash in certain instances.
Most instances are minor and the blood vessel repairs itself within 2 to 3 weeks. The ones we notice are cosmetic, appearing just under the translucent layer of the skin. This might be expected since it is the skin where most bumps and bruises happen. A broken blood vessel can also occur internally. This happens less frequently, and of course goes unnoticed, unless there is a significant loss of blood involved. When such a loss of blood occurs within the eyeball, the appearance is somewhat frightening, but the condition is usually not serious, and repairs itself over time. A broken vessel in the area of the brain is usually of course quite a different matter, resulting in many problems and at times can be very serious and even fatal.
Some individuals seem to bruise much more easily than others. This may be due to age, but very often results from one or another medication a person may be taking. Cortisone for example, when applied topically to a particular area such as the hands, to treat a skin condition, can sometimes make that area more susceptible to bruising. A small percentage of people taking Singular or Prednisone have reported an increase in the number of broken blood vessels they have experienced. Symptoms sometimes manifest themselves as a type of skin rash, called a vascularic rash. A change in medication is often the answer if the symptoms become too pronounced. (continued...)