Deep Wound Healing – 3 Things You Shouldn’t Do
Deep wounds can result from accidents, falls, trauma, or surgery. Regardless of the cause, deep wound healing is slow, sometimes taking months. During this time, specialized treatment may be required to avoid issues that arise.
Wound care is an essential aspect of treatment. It involves pain management, infection control, administering medication, and wound maintenance. These treatments are especially vital for those with compromised immune functions, including the elderly, diabetics, and those prone to infection. Such individuals are slower to recover than others, often requiring several weeks or more to heal.
Fairview Rehab in Queens, NY, offers wound care for those who need it, administered by our professionally trained staff. Treatment is also available for those dealing with infectious diseases or other complications. Contact us for more information on our inpatient and outpatient services.
Deep Wound Healing – 3 Things to Avoid
For wounds to heal properly, they need to be taken care of using the proper methods. Failing to do so results in even minor wounds becoming serious and requiring extra care. To ensure wounds heal well, avoiding inflammation and infection is crucial, as is seeking medical attention when needed. The following sections discuss the three main issues to avoid for a speedy recovery.
1. Avoid high blood sugar
For healing deep wounds, oxygen and nutrients must be delivered to the area by blood. If blood flow is restricted or isn’t carrying enough of these two factors, healing slows or doesn’t occur at all.
High blood sugar is one possible cause of reduced blood flow. High glucose levels stiffen and narrow the vessels, slowing the flow. Oxygen and nutrients don’t get where they’re needed most, preventing deep wounds from getting better. This issue is frequent in the elderly, obese individuals, or those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or vascular disease.
To avoid high blood sugar, monitor your levels regularly for healing deep wounds. Lowering your glucose intake is also required, so do avoid sugary foods and beverages.
2. Avoid infection
Infection threatens any open wound, resulting in a few consequences. First, it causes pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, warmth, and pus. These can be uncomfortable and tricky to treat, especially when not treated immediately. Infection also slows recovery since the body focuses on fighting it instead of healing the deep wound.
To prevent infection, clean the wound regularly and change the bandages daily. If it is too far gone, your doctor may recommend antibiotics to treat it. Follow the prescription carefully to cure the infection so the wound can resume healing.
3. Avoid using soap or other chemicals
Though cleaning is critical for deep wound healing, using the wrong products can do more harm than good. Regular soap, chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, or herbs may seem safe, but they aren’t recommended, especially for open wounds. Instead, use antibiotic or antibacterial creams to clean the wound and fight infection. If you aren’t sure of the best option, ask your doctor for a recommendation.
Resources:
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=134&ContentID=143
https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2017/11/08/20/05/3-reasons-diabetic-wounds-are-slow-to-heal
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/wounds-how-to-care-for-them
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000741.htm
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/wounds
This article contains informational and educational materials and does not replace health or medical advice. For questions or concerns regarding your medical condition or health objectives, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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