What Does It Mean When A Blood Vessel Pops?

The human body is quite fascinating when you think about it. All your muscles, tissues, and bones have a magical way of working together to give you the ability to function every day because blood is constantly pumping oxygen to all the vital organs. According to Medical News Today, the amount of blood in a human body accounts for 7% to 8% of the total body weight in an average human, which is about 10.5 pints in all. If you go to your doctor for a yearly physical, your physician might ask to do annual blood work to check if everything is working well. A blood test is the easiest way to check for diseases because it allows you to verify that your organs functioning healthily, if you have an illness and need treatment, or if any medications you might take are properly working, per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. As you get older, it is essential to have regular blood work to determine whether you have potential risks for certain diseases.

But unfortunately, it's inevitable that anyone will get hurt at home, work, or in an unfortunate accident. We can bump into something and get a bruise without bleeding, which is an example of a popped blood vessel. There's good news, though: Your body has the incredible ability to self-heal, per Temecula Center for Integrative Health.

Many have experienced minor cuts at some point in their lives. Thanks to your self-healing body and some at-home first aid kit, you can immediately start your recovery journey. However, sometimes people have injuries in which an open wound isn't visible. Even if there isn't a cut or a scrape, it might result in blood vessels bursting underneath the skin. In this case, a tiny amount of blood is released from the injured vessel inside the human body, per Healthline. You will see the blood under your skin due to the popped blood vessel. If it manifests in the shape of tiny dots, it is called "petechiae," and if you notice a larger patch, it is called "purpura."

According to WebMD, a common example of a popped blood vessel is subconjunctival hemorrhage — or when you notice a red spot in your eye due to something as minor as sneezing. The pressure can pop the tiny blood vessels, but fortunately, if this happens, it'll stay on the outer surface of the eye and won't rupture any deeper than that. 

So yes, minor injuries can cause bruising as a result of popped blood vessels as a part of everyday life. Still, if you notice a patch on your skin but don't remember hurting yourself, you should consult your physician and make an appointment ASAP.