Normally, in healthy individuals, wound healing is commonly taken for granted because wounds usually have little difficulty healing when treated with today’s well accepted care standards. However, in an individual who has other associated medical problems, wound healing can become a complex process, demanding greater intervention and a longer time for healing to occur.

When a wound does stop healing or becomes “chronic”, there are a number of factors that may influence why that happens.

Following are some of the health factors to consider if you have a chronic wound. It would be easier to just focus on the wound itself, but health professionals will always look carefully at these factors because they will directly influence the wound care that is prescribed for you.

Local Factors Which Occur Directly in the Wound:

Dry Environment
Wounds will heal best in a moist environment. Just like we need water to survive, a wound needs some moisture or the cells will start to die. That is why care providers use dressings to add moisture to assist in maintaining the hydration of the wound surface.

Incontinence
Some wounds are located on the lower buttocks area where keeping the wound clean can be a problem. When bacteria is introduced into a wound from a bowel movement or urine, the wound needs to be washed thoroughly to remove the bacteria to reduce the chance for infection.

Infection
Infection may occur not just from incontinence, as mentioned above, but also if wound dressings and hands are not kept clean during dressing changes. A wound is an easy entrance for bacteria, which may lead to an infection, so it must be kept as clean as possible.

Necrosis
Necrosis is another word for dead tissue. To prevent infection, a medical professional should remove dead tissue from a wound. Necrosis can look dry and leathery or yellow and stringy and is a prime place for bacteria to hide and encourage infection. This tissue must be removed before repair and healing can occur.

Pressure
When lying, sitting or standing there are areas on the body where the bone is closer to the surface such as the heels, the buttocks, and the elbows. When too much pressure occurs on the skin over these areas, the circulation is decreased and the skin can break down. In the same way, if pressure is not kept off a wound, it will decrease blood and nutrients from reaching the area to support healing. Pressure must be reduced from wounds or they will not heal.

Trauma/Edema
Continual trauma such as bumping a wound will reduce the ability for it to heal. Additionally, if there is poor circulation, then gravity will encourage pooling of the body’s fluid (called edema). So, when a wound occurs on the foot or lower leg, the foot or leg should be kept raised to heart level as much as possible to reduce body fluid from pooling around the wound which puts pressure on the small arteries and veins that are helping deliver precious nutrition to the area.

Systemic Factors Which Occur Throughout the Body:

Age
Wounds in the elderly will usually take longer to heal simply because there are often accompanying problems such as poor nutrition, circulatory problems and chronic disease issues.

Body Build
In an obese individual, circulation may be reduced because fatty tissue has a poor blood supply. In an individual who is slight or emaciated, the lack of fatty tissue can reduce the padding of bony prominences.

Chronic Diseases
Chronic disease can have a direct affect on healing. Coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, and diabetes can all slow the healing process as they directly affect the body’s own natural healing process.

Nutrition and Hydration
Giving the body the proper amounts of nutrients it needs for fuel is vital to both maintaining it and having the energy to heal. Essential nutrients necessary to healing include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Additionally, drinking enough fluid will help those nutrients circulate to nourish all parts of the body.

Circulation Problems
Due to pressure, poor circulation, or vascular diseases, the legs and feet may be more susceptible to various wounds or ulcers. Because the tissue is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients, the healing process will be slowed.

Smoking
Smoking reduces the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the tissue and thereby impedes the healing process.

How can the MIST Therapy^® System help my wound? Technology Overview

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