Wounds are Harder to Heal as We Age, Especially with Vascular Disease
When we were young and active, we fell and acquired many school-age wounds. From sliding into second base and skinning our elbows to minor cuts, kids only need their parents to wash their wounds with soap and water before they can brag to their friends about their playground escapades. Unfortunately, as we age, we lose that resiliency—especially if we are diagnosed with diabetes, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), obesity, heart or vascular disease, or simply not eating enough of the right foods.
Diabetes is a disease process where you need to monitor every nick, cut, and scrape. If you have neuropathy, don't venture outside without shoes! People who are diabetic can injure their feet and not even feel it. As time passes and healing is impaired, a simple cut can devolve into a serious wound that will require immediate medical intervention.
The high blood sugar that results from diabetes can result in immune system dysfunction and inflammation, which prevents the cells in your body from effectively utilizing vital nutrients and receiving proper oxygenation. Having high glucose levels in your blood is a breeding ground for bacteria. This, coupled with the fact that wounds take longer to heal as we age, can be a recipe for disaster.
Patients with diabetes are also twice as likely to develop PAD, which reduces blood flow and contributes to non-healing wounds and, eventually, tissue death.
Venous insufficiency contributes to inflammation and leg ulcers, so older adults who suffer from venous insufficiency are at risk for non-healing wounds. The aging process by itself reduces the skin’s ability to repair itself. We have fewer stem cells and growth components as we age, impairing our ability to heal as quickly as we did when we were younger.
When you couple the aging process with other afflictions, like PAD, diabetes, vascular disease, or heart disease, you are that much more susceptible to wounds that do not heal properly. Therefore, it is imperative to exercise, eat right, and avoid falls and injuries.
These three simple safety tips can go a long way:
Don’t place carpet in an area where you can trip or fall.
Wear protective footwear whenever you go outside.
Examine your feet daily to ensure that your skin is free of cuts or lesions.
If you develop an ulcer or a non-healing wound, schedule an appointment with a vascular surgeon like Dr. David Nabi of Newport Beach, California. Your vascular surgeon will monitor and treat the wound. Preventing minor injuries from festering and escalating into wound ulcers can prevent tissue death and amputations. The largest organ in our body is our skin, so be vigilant about protecting it!