An elderly woman presents with extensive bruising on her arms and legs, which appeared without any known injury. She takes aspirin daily for heart disease prevention. What could be the reason for her symptoms, and what should be done next?
Easy bruising in an elderly patient, especially one on aspirin, could be due to the anticoagulant effect of the medication, leading to more bleeding into tissues. However, other conditions such as blood clotting disorders, liver disease, or vitamin deficiencies should also be considered. The next steps should include a complete blood count, liver function tests, coagulation studies, and possibly a platelet count. It may be necessary to review her aspirin therapy with her primary care physician or cardiologist.