Pressure Ulcers: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Pressure ulcers are also known as bedsores or pressure sores, and these refer to a type of injury affecting areas of your skin as well as the underlying tissues. These sores occur when the affected area is subjected to too much pressure. They can range in severity from discoloured skin patches to open wounds that often expose the underlying muscle or bone.

Exactly how do pressure ulcers develop? Well, they can occur when a large amount of pressure is placed on a specific area of your skin over a short period of time, or when minimal pressure is applied on your skin over a very long period of time. The sores occur because the added pressure disrupts blood flow through your skin. When a particular area of skin does not receive adequate blood supply, it becomes starved of nutrients and oxygen. As a result, the skin will begin to break down until ulcers are developed.

Healthy individuals often adjust their position and posture such that no part of their body is ever subjected to too much pressure; they do this even when they are asleep, when their subconscious mind is working. For people with serious health conditions, however, it can be quite difficult to move their body, which places them at risk for developing bedsores. Some conditions can also affect the flow of blood through your body, thus making you more vulnerable to these sores.

You might think that pressure ulcers are a fairly rare occurrence, but it is actually widespread, although often underestimated across the world. You would be surprised to know, for instance, that about one in twenty people who get admitted to the hospital because of an acute illness will likely develop bedsores. Those who are over the age of 70 are especially vulnerable because of factors like reduced blood supply, skin aging, and higher rate of mobility problems. In fact, studies have revealed that about two out of three people who suffer from bedsores are aged 70 or above.

Bedsores can definitely be unpleasant, upsetting, and more than a little challenging to treat. For this reason, healthcare professionals often use a wide range of techniques designed to prevent these sores from occurring in the first place. These techniques include regularly changing the position of a patient and using especially designed mattresses and cushions to protect the vulnerable parts of your body. Even with the best standards of healthcare, however, you cannot always prevent the occurrence of these ulcers in high-risk individuals.

The outlook can vary a great deal for people with bedsores. For some, these sores are just minor inconveniences that also require minor care. For others, however, these sores are very serious and may even lead to some life-threatening complications such as gangrene or blood poisoning. Treatment of this condition often involves the use of dressings, gels, and creams designed to relieve pressure and speed up the healing process. For the most serious cases of pressure ulcers, your doctor might recommend surgery as a last resort.