The name of this disease itself clarifies a lot about it. When an individual is bedridden then due to continuously lying on the bed for several hours, the blood supply gets interrupted and prevented from reaching vulnerable parts of the body.
This damages the skin and initiates the development of a Bed Sore. As it develops further, it progressively changes its color from red to purple. Once a Bed Sore is developed then it does not heal easily and takes a lot of time and effort to heal completely.
As the primary cause of developing Bed Sores is pressure that stops the blood supply, Bed Sores are also known as Pressure Sores or Pressure Ulcers or Pressure Wounds. If poorly treated or not treated at all, Bed Sores may result in serious complications such as Sepsis, Gangrene, Osteomyelitis or other types of infections.
Therefore, proper remdial measures should be adopted right from the beginning whether in the form of conventional treatment or in the form of home treatment with the help of natural home remedies for Bed Sores.
Causes of Bed Sores
Apart from staying bedridden for long periods of time, Bed Sores can also be caused as a result of staying on a wheelchair for a long time. Such patients are often forced to stay immobile on the bed or wheel chair due to some unavoidable reasons like heavy sedation, acute illness, diminished mental functioning or unconsciousness. This causes sustained pressure on the skin covering a weight-bearing part of the body which in turn leads to tissue damage.
The most common sites of Bed Sores for bedridden patients are areas around the lower back, the heels and the hip-bone. Depending on the position of the patient, other locations that are likely to develop Bed Sores include the knees, the spine, the head, the ankles, or the shoulders.
Excessive exposure to moisture in the form of sweat, urine, or blood also contributes to the development of such sores. Elder people are more at risk as their skin is comparatively thinner and more fragile. Besides, conditions like Paralysis, Spinal Cord Injury, Diabetes or Strokes lead to nerve damage thats make the patient indifferent to sensations like pain thereby. This does not give the patient the stimulus to move. This in turn leads to sustained pressure eventually resulting in Bed Sores.
Symptoms of Bed Sores
The progressive development and life cycle of Bed Sores can be divided into four stages. The initial stage is characterized by tender, itchy and reddened skin on the affected area. In the next stage, the skin becomes swollen and painful blisters develop.
In the third stage, the sore penetrates deeper in the skin. Typical crater-like ulcers are visible by this time and the risk of further infections increases. In the fourth stage, the infection and severity of the wound increase manifold and the sore penetrates up to the muscles or even the bones. Typical blackened dead tissues are visible by this stage.
It is better not to let the sore become so severe that it becomes life threatening. For this, proper preventive as well as curative measures should be adopted at the onset of the problem. Home remedies for Bed Sores include a variety of measures like changing the position every two hours, massaging the skin to improve blood circulation, applying therapeutic poultice and so on.
Needless to mention, the wound should be cleaned regularly to remove dead tissues. The skin should be dried after cleaning so that traces of moisture do not cause further problems.
Natural Home Remedies for Bed Sores
- Applying honey on the affected area is an effective natural remedy used in the treatment of Bed Sores.
- Aloe Vera juice, comfrey and wheat germ oil make for excellent natural home remedies for Bed Sores.
- Prepare a paste by mixing powdered comfrey leaves and slippery elm in equal parts. Then, place this paste on a cloth and finally tie it up on the affected area overnight to provide relief.
- Applying a mixture of honey and sugar on the affected area two times on a daily basis is one of the simplest and equally effective natural home remedies for Bed Sores.
Massaging the area with St John’s wort or tea tree oil along with diluted almond oil is a highly beneficial natural home remedy to cure Bed Sores.
Diet for Bed Sores
The diet for the proper treatment of Bed Sores should essentially consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds rich in vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc. They help to boost the immune system and promote faster recovery. Protein and fiber are essential requirements of a healthy diet. Eggs, fish and milk are particularly useful in this regard.
Malnutrition has been found to worsen the situation. Thus, including nutritious, fresh and raw fruits and vegetables are highly recommended in the treatment of Bed Sores. Using corn and safflower oil in cooking they tend to increase inflammations. So, they should be avoided as far as possible
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