6 things that make it difficult for wounds to heal and not just because of diabetes

Bumisuka.com – 6 things that make it difficult for wounds to heal and not just because of diabetes. When injured, the body will indeed need time to heal itself. However, this doesn’t mean you just ignore it. No matter how small the wound must be cleaned and cared for properly.

If not handled properly, the wound will be very susceptible to infection, making it take longer to heal. You certainly don’t want this to happen, do you?

However, there are actually a number of conditions that can make our wounds heal longer. Although often associated with diabetes, there are several other causes of this problem. Come on, see the full explanation below!

1. The wound is infected

Even though they are small, wounds must be treated properly to avoid infection and speed up the healing process. Unfortunately, wrong wound care will make it more susceptible to inflammation.

Quoting Medical News Today, a wound will heal longer if it has been contaminated by microbes, such as bacteria. The presence of an infection in an open area of the skin makes the immune system participate in fighting the microorganism so that the healing process takes longer. This is so that inflammation does not spread to other areas.

There are several other symptoms that arise from an infected wound. Starting from fever, pain that doesn’t go away, redness, and green or yellowish discharge from the wound.

2. Diabetes

For people with diabetes, wounds that are difficult to heal are a problem that is often complained of. This condition occurs due to high levels of glucose which make blood vessels narrow. As a result, blood flow will be obstructed so that it becomes difficult for nutrients to reach the injured body part. This is the reason why wounds become difficult to heal.

In addition, high glucose levels cause white blood cells to work less optimally, citing Healthline. You need to know that white blood cells play a role in the immune system. Finally, making the wound susceptible to infection.

3. Insufficient nutritional needs

It is undeniable that nutrition plays an important role for health. Starting from being a source of energy, helping metabolism, repairing body cells, regulating electrolyte fluids to the formation of hormones and enzymes.

One of the roles of nutritional balance is to help the wound healing process. Reported by the Cleveland Clinic, the body requires extra energy to repair and build damaged tissues and cells.

So, make sure you meet your nutritional needs, such as being rich in protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and zinc. The reason is, all these nutrients can help speed up the wound healing process.

4. Hemophilia

Not only diabetes, for people with hemophilia, wounds or injuries that are experienced will also take longer to heal. The reason is, blood will be difficult to stop due to lack of protein that plays a role in clotting.

This condition ultimately interferes with the blood clotting process, citing Kids Health. Therefore, people with hemophilia must do first aid as soon as possible so that the blood can stop quickly. Several other conditions can also hinder the wound healing process, such as peripheral arterial disease, thrombocytopenia, and autoimmune diseases.

5. Excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages

The impact of consuming alcohol especially in excess will have a negative impact on health. One of them can hinder the healing process of wounds or injuries.

According to research published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research in 2011, it is explained that excessive alcohol consumption can cause dehydration and a lack of energy. In fact, the body needs to keep the skin moist and requires extra energy to help repair and form new cells.

6. Repeated trauma to the wound

Not a few people who let their wounds open just like that. The goal may be for the wound to dry and heal quickly. However, the fact is that not all types of wounds should be treated the same.

Some types of wounds actually need to be bandaged so they don’t get infected and speed up the healing process. This is because wounds that are left open will be more susceptible to friction or impact by a surface.

Instead of healing quickly, leaving the wound open will potentially cause trauma or repeated injuries. This habit will actually make it take longer to heal.

In order for the wound to heal quickly and not get infected, it is very important to do proper first aid and treat the wound. So, if your wound doesn’t get better and you have a fever and other symptoms, this means that you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.