How To Avoid Bedsores
June 8, 2009
If for any unfortunate reason one remains confined to a bed for very long period at a stretch, bedsores are likely to appear. Elderly sick people confined to bed are more prone to developing these.
If timely precautions are not taken and treatment is delayed it may lead to serious implications that further add to the discomfort of the patient. Treatment calls for professional help and handling. Unless proper nursing can be provided at home, the sufferer should be taken to a hospital for appropriate and competent handling. It is not desirable to remove the patient from the hospital unless the doctor advises so.
Causes
There can be various reasons for the formation of bedsores. The most common reason is the patient’s body being confined in the same state and angle without any movement. When one continues to lie down continuously in the same state, it causes undue pressure on particular parts of the body and that leads to this malady.
The other factors that may lead to formation of bedsores are moisture or humidity and temperature or friction. Don’t get carried away by the categorization and conclude these are formed because of being in the bed only. These may be developed even in a sitting position, for example continuously being in a wheelchair for long periods.
As a result the location of bedsores would depend on the positioning of the patient. Those in bed will generally tend to have these around the heels, the hips and the lower back.
Preventive measures can surely help to avoid having bedsores. Here are a few of those.
Precautions and handling
The patient should suitably be given a bath. It’s very important to have periodic checks of the patient to assess the formation of bedsores.
Though appropriate nutrition and hydration is essentially needed, it has to be ensured that moisture on the skin doesn’t become a cause to the disorder. It is vital to take the necessary steps to help the patient shift their position at frequent intervals. If needed an artificial support system can be developed and provided for the patient to facilitate his or her changing of posture or position.
Above all, caretakers and relatives of the patient must be properly and suitably educated on the subject and should be made aware of the consequences of not following the given directives.
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