Bed sores are otherwise
known as decubitus ulcers or pressure ulcers. These occur due to the pressure
applied to the soft tissues which is the result of obstruction in the blood
flow to the soft tissues. Yet another cause is the shear as it obstructs the
blood vessels which feed the skin. A bedridden person or a person confined to
the wheelchairs is normally prone to bedsores. It is also to be noted that
bedsores are also life-threatening disease and if not treated properly, it
could be fatal. You might also suffer
from disorders of skin, some infections, hazardous diseases like ulcers, etc.
As we have seen
earlier, bedsores tend to affect the people who are confined to bed or those
who are immobilized for some reason or the other. When you get bedsore most of
the body pressure is confined to certain organs of the body i.e. hips, elbows,
heels, shoulders, etc. The major cause for the bed sores is the moisture that is generated by the friction of the
bed sheets as well as the sweating from the body.
Normally, bed sores need medical treatment and
prompt medical advice should be taken.
Some alternate
treatments are:
·
Herbal treatment: Under this
treatment, herbal products like Aloe Vera, herbal medicines, creams, ointments,
and gels are all applied on the parts affected by the bedsores.
·
Self-Treatment: The best self-treatment
method is to minimize the pressure on the areas affected by keeping it dry and
clean and under worst circumstances, you may also go for dressings, bandages
and other healing methodologies.
·
Diet Control: Diet control by
way of having nutritious food enriched with vitamins and minerals and drinking
water to avoid dehydration is an excellent way of strengthening the immune
system as well as avoiding bed sores.
Bedsores
normally affect those who have major disabilities and they may not even feel
the pain even if it gets worse and the skin dies away and the wound goes up to
the bone but the sufferer will not know at all about the serious health problem
that they are undergoing. That is why bedsores are quite dangerous. Even before
the problem is detected, it could have infected and would have started
festering and with people leading sedentary life the infection will quickly
become a life threatening disease. The best way is to prevent the bedsores
rather than going for a cure. You need to frequently change the body position,
using of proper wheel chair with necessary cushions and mattresses that are
specially made to relieve the pressure on the body, etc. will help in the
prevention of the bedsores. It is also very vital to keep your body clean and
massage is also an ideal choice.
Always remember
that skin is the largest organ that protects our inner parts. The biggest
defense for anyone against the bedsores is to be more vigilant either
personally or through the help of the care giver. But once you get to know
about having bedsore then it is ideal to take the medical help immediately
without waiting for it to develop further.
Bed sores are a
serious problem and should not be neglected at all cost. As and when you find
the symptoms of bedsores, it is advisable to consult the doctor immediately and
always remember “Prevention is better than Cure”.
Vardaan Senior Centre offers excellent care
for complicated Bedsores where trained staff takes care of these complications
professionally.
