Pressure Sores on Heels of Older People


 


 


 


            Sitting or lying for too long without moving is not good particularly for older


 


people. It can cause a condition called pressure sores.


 


            Pressure sores are areas of damaged skin that become open wounds. It is


 


naturally to shift position from time to time when you’re asleep or just sitting. But


 


when a person is too sick or too old to move frequently, he is prone in getting


 


pressure sores. Experts explain this to happen when the weight of the body


 


presses down the skin resulting in lack of blood flow. The skin cells die and the


 


skin starts to break down. It tends to occur over the bony parts of the body.


 


Pressure sores can be serious as life-threatening if left untreated or underlying


 


health conditions prevent them from healing. It is also called pressure ulcer.


 


            Moreover, there are other factors attributed in worsening conditions when


 


afflicted by pressure sores. Traction, or when the skin is stretched by being


 


wedged against something, also stops blood flow to the skin. When the skin is


 


stretched, there is much pressure involved on the part of the skin. Repeated


 


friction on top layers of the skin can lead worse pressure ulcers. Moisture can


 


weaken or damage the protective outer layer of the skin if it is exposed for a long


 


time. Example of moisture in skin is urine or sweat. Also, inadequate nutrition


 


increases the risk of developing pressure ulcers and slows the healing process


 


when the person has already the developed the sores. People with diets deficient


 


on protein, vitamin C or zinc have slow skin repairing body functions.


 


            The starting symptoms of pressure sores are pain and itching, but


 


categorized in four stages according to the severity of damage. Stage 1 is


 


redness and inflammation. Stage 2 is shallow skin loss which includes abrasions


 


and blisters. Stage 3 is the full-thickness skin loss down to the layer of fat. And


 


the most severe is the Stage 4, where full-thickness skin loss with exposure of


 


underlying muscle, tendon or bone. The area around the pressure sore becomes


 


red and feel warm, and the pain worsens if the infection spreads to the


 


surrounding skin which causes cellulitis. Infection can even penetrate the bone


 


which is called osteomyelitis that requires weeks of treatment with antibiotics.


 


The most severe case is when the infection spread into the bloodstream which


 


results to sepsis, high fever and shaking chills. However, it could be prevented to


 


progress from mild to severe stages if diagnosed and treated immediately.


 


            Not all old people acquire pressure sores. But, aging itself causes


 


changes in tissues which is more prone to pressure ulcers. The outer layers


 


become thin and decreases in fat and muscle content that is more easily


 


ruptured. However, due to conditions of some certain old people, they are more


 


likely to develop pressure sores particularly on heels.


 


            Immobility is the primary cause of developing pressure sores in old


 


people. Those who are greatly in risk are debilitated, paralyzed or incontinent. An


 


example is a stroke patient. Most stroke patients are confined in a wheelchair.


 


Continuous pressure on the heel without shifting movements would likely develop


 


heel pressure ulcers. Moreover, such patients lose sensation due to nerve


 


damage. And because of this, they do not feel discomfort or pain that would be


 


the first symptoms of pressure sores. People who take care of them would only


 


notice the sores when it has already developed.


 


            The unlikelyness to walk around for the aging people also risks them from


 


heel pressure ulcers. The tissue around the area of the sole is not exercised


 


enough and tends to put more pressure when just sitting.


 


            Prevention is still the best way in dealing with pressure sores. Thorough


 


daily inspection of bedridden or chairbound person’s skin can detect early


 


symptoms of sores. They should be repositioned every hour by the people who


 


take care of them, either a family member or a personal caregiver. The skin must


 


be kept clean and dry because dry skin is less likely to cause friction.


 


            But when the pressure sores start to develop, immediate treatment must


 


be taken into place. The main goals of treatment procedure are relieving


 


pressure on the sores, keeping it clean, and providing sufficient nutrition that will


 


help heal the sores. A well-balanced diet that is high in protein, vitamin C and


 


zinc is highly recommended.


 


            It is essential to early detect the pressure sores particularly on the heels of


 


aging people. But it is not enough to just look after their possible diseases, it is


 


more important to give them enough care that they need the most.


 


 


 


 


 


 


References:


 


http://emedicine.medscape.com


 


http://www.merck.com


 


http://www.nursingcenter.com


 


 


 



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