understand what it can be!

You finished your bodybuilding workout and, when it was time to change your clothes, you noticed a purple spot on your skin that wasn’t there before. Soon, you try to remember some beat you suffered at the scene, but the bruise seems to have arisen spontaneously. Could the cause be physical exercise? According to vascular surgeon Dr. Aline Lamaita, member of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery, is unlikely. “These purple spots after training usually appear in patients who have what we call capillary fragility, that is, who suffer bruises more easily, a very common characteristic in people who tend to varicose veins and spider veins. In these cases, any more intense effort or rough contact that exerts pressure on the vessels, such as when performing exercises with bodybuilding machinery, can cause the rupture of these vessels with consequent extravasation of blood, leading to the appearance of ‘bruise spots’, especially when the patient is in her menstrual period or swollen”, says the doctor.

The specialist reinforces that the bodybuilding training is not to blame, which should not be left out, because, in fact, the practice contributes to the improvement of circulation. “Because it is composed of more intense exercises, bodybuilding makes the heart more active and healthy, improves blood flow, normalizes pressure and fights cholesterol, thus preventing varicose veins and thrombosis and protecting the body against cardiovascular diseases”, he highlights.

However, if you are noticing the appearance of bruises after training, it is interesting to consult a vascular surgeon to undergo an evaluation, as it is possible that you have a predisposition to varicose veins. And, in these cases, training should be carried out with extra care and accompanied by a physical education professional to prevent the appearance and worsening of varicose veins. “For example, in people who are predisposed to varicose veins, the habit of holding your breath to lift heavy loads can increase intra-abdominal pressure, which, in turn, reduces venous return from the legs to the heart. In this way, the blood accumulated in the legs ends up increasing the pressure inside the veins in the region, which suffer dilation and give rise to varicose veins”, warns Dr. Aline.

But the predisposition to varicose veins is not the only cause of spontaneous bruising, so consulting a specialist is essential not only to verify the ideal exercises for you, but also to identify the cause of the problem. “Spontaneous bruising can mean that platelets or blood clotting factors are altered. And the alert should be even greater when, in addition to bruises, there is bleeding in other parts of the body, such as the gums and nose, as well as fever, weakness or weight loss”, emphasizes the vascular surgeon. In addition to predisposition to varicose veins, the use of medications such as aspirin and conditions such as acute leukemia, bone marrow aplasia and infectious diseases, including dengue and yellow fever, may favor the appearance of spontaneous hematomas. “And some of these diseases, such as acute leukemia, are serious and must be diagnosed as soon as possible so that treatment can be started immediately. Therefore, when noticing the random appearance of bruises, it is recommended that you see a doctor as soon as possible. Only he will be able to carry out an evaluation and diagnose the problem correctly”, concludes Dr. Aline Lamaita.

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