What Factors can Affect Wound Healing of Chronic Wounds?

Healing a wound, whether an injury or surgery causes it, usually proceeds consistently through a series of steps. Chronic wounds are those that do not heal after 30 days. Chronic wounds typically remain in one or more steps of the wound healing process. If you like to know more about the subject, we recommend reading our article about wound care management.

This article tells you about ten factors of the most typical factors influencing chronic wound healing and a few tips for caregivers to manage wounds better.

Not all of the wounds need special care. Superficial wounds can heal at home. Some wounds can be treated with a little rest and the help of an expert. However, some factors might cause troubles for the healing process by slowing it down. Here are 10 slowing factors:

Age of Patient

Numerous overall changes in healing capability are age-related. According to experts, the elderly who are 60 or older may have delayed wound healing owing to circumstances linked with physical changes that happen with aging. Adding to several existing comorbidities ( the presence of more than one disease or medical condition in one individual), there is a reduction in the body’s inflammatory response, a halt in angiogenesis, and a delayed epithelialization process. Some obvious changes in the skin are connected to melanocyte alterations, such as age spots, as well as drier skin due to the reduced sebaceous gland function. Reduced collagen synthesis has also been linked to reduced scar formation during the wound healing process.

Type of Wound

The features of a wound can influence how quickly it heals. Larger wounds definitely take more time to heal, but again the shape of the injury can also influence the healing process. For example, linear wounds heal faster than rectangular ones, and circular wounds take the longest time to heal. Furthermore, the wound healing process is slowed when necrotic tissue, desiccation, and foreign bodies are present.

Infection

Bacteria, viruses, and fungus are able to break into the wound site through any break on the surface of the skin. Normally, white blood cells and other immune system elements catch and kill these infections. However, when an infection is present in the body, it can spread to the skin’s surface and cause a sore or lesion that must be treated with appropriate wound care and sometimes medications.

Chronic Diseases

Diabetic patients or other circulatory system problems might have impaired wound healing. Effective wound healing necessitates adequate blood flow, and chronic disorders that impair blood flow to the wound site may necessitate therapeutic intervention. Individuals suffering from chronic wounds should seek the advice of a medical practitioner for a thorough examination in order to determine the best treatment options.

Poor Nutrition

Undernutrition and bad diets in a chronically unwell or geriatric patient can leave the body with inadequate resources to repair the wound. Poor nutrition can develop because infections raise an individual’s protein and calorie needs. Furthermore, wounds can discharge considerable amounts of protein on a regular basis, particularly if there is a severe pressure ulcer (injury) or leg ulcer. Inefficient calorie intake causes the body to break down protein for energy, decreasing even further its capacity to repair itself.

Lack of Hydration

A wound’s surface that is not moist enough can impede cellular migration, reduce blood oxygenation, and significantly delay the wound healing process. Dehydration due to salt or water deficiency can cause all parts of the healing process to be delayed. While most people require 64 ounces of fluid per day, a person recovering from a wound will require additional fluid to aid the process of white blood cells getting to the injury site to deliver essential oxygen and nutrients. A well-hydrated patient will have urine that is clean and odorless.

Poor Blood Circulation

People with low blood pressure or vascular illness may experience delayed healing because blood distributes the required elements to tissue for the wound healing change to begin. Blocked or restricted blood arteries, as well as disorders of the heart, kidneys, and lungs, can all interfere with the body’s ability to distribute important wound healing elements, such as white blood cells and enough oxygen, to wounded tissues.

Edema

Although most serious injuries generate some tissue swelling, severe edema can raise blood vessel pressure lead to impaired blood circulation in the wound area. In addition, there are heart or blood vessel problems that can cause tissue swelling. Often, compression therapy is effective at restoring fluid balance to the body, reducing edema, and helping to promote a full recovery.

Repeated Trauma

Wounds that are repeatedly reinjured as a result of stress or too much pressure against a surface may have their healing process slowed down or even halted. Repetitive trauma frequently occurs in bed-bound patients and can be managed with regular repositioning or the use of unloading or protective devices under the guidance of a health care practitioner.

Patient Behaviors

Unfortunately, some patients cause their wounds and injuries to delay healing by engaging in risky behaviors such as smoking or binge drinking. Other patients’ behaviors that can impair wound healing include a lack of sufficient sleep, failure to elevate the afflicted area, improper wound cleansing, poor wound dressing practices, failure to keep the moisture of the wound, and a lack of movement. Listening to patients and offering thorough instruction can help improve adherence to excellent wound healing procedures.

Tips for Health Caregivers

In a perfect world, caregivers can use complicated wound-healing mechanisms to heal every wound effectively. Fortunately, there are a variety of therapeutic options available for caregivers to help chronic wounds heal, including regular washing, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), debridement, specific wound dressings, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). However, for the best health outcomes, health caregivers must understand the variables that inhibit wound healing so that they can apply alternative treatments effectively.

Wound Care Experts Near me in Las Vegas

The greatest wound care specialists in Las Vegas can be found at Health and Care Professional Network. Our wound care specialists have received thorough training and have extensive expertise in dealing with various sorts of wounds. If your loved one’s wounds do not heal within two weeks or the healing process takes longer than six weeks, please contact our wound care specialists immediately away. The indications and symptoms you should be aware of, as well as the warnings listed above.