This will help decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke. Engage in physical activity three times a week.Manage stress, laugh, and smile as much as possible.This is the best way to get all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients one needs to be healthy. Eat a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits to boost their nutrition.COLOR: May appear pink/red or brown/black.Įncouraging Patients to Adopt Healthy Heart Habits.Punched out, while the surrounding skin is often calloused or hyperkeratotic. SHAPE: Variable, depending on the patient's circulation.LOCATION: Usually located at increased pressure points or related to trauma on the bottom of the feet.Diabetic neuropathic ulcers occur primarily in people with diabetes, although neuropathic ulcers can affect anyone who has an impaired sensation of the feet.LOCATION: One inch below the knee to just above the ankle (gaiter area).These can sometimes be associated with infection or inflammation. These ulcers are superficial, shallow, and irregularly shaped, with pain and edema. If the valves are damaged, the blood backs up and "pools" in the veins to cause a possible ulcer. The veins in the legs have one-way valves that keep the blood flowing to the heart. Venous ulcers are caused by poor blood circulation from venous insufficiency.LOCATION: Feet - often tips of toes, between the toes.These usually involve the full thickness of skin, and occasionally cause pain that subsides when the legs are lowered below the heart level. If the artery is clogged, then this prevents the nutrient-rich blood from flowing to the extremities, and an ulcer results. Arteries are responsible for delivering nutrients and oxygen to different tissues. They are often referred to as ischemic ulcers. Arterial ulcers are commonly caused by blocked arteries.While lying in my hospital bed, I started thinking about my patients with chronic wounds along with cardiovascular disease, and what we can do to not only support their wound closure, but also their heart health. I can tell you I have learned my lesson the hard way and have no choice but to slow down and put myself first. I guess it was my way of celebrating? I am known for being a bit of a workaholic. I was diagnosed with left-sided heart failure on February 1, hospitalized the next day, and then topped it off with pneumonia. This issue of cardiovascular health recently hit home. Cardiovascular diseases that impede healing include peripheral arterial disease, coronary artery diseases, heart failure, and other heart and vessel issues that can inhibit blood, oxygen, and nutrition in wound healing. A healthy heart is a leading factor in wound healing. This equals more than one person diagnosed each minute! The skin may be the largest organ, but the heart is most vital in circulating oxygen and nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. Every year, there are approximately 670,000 Americans diagnosed with heart disease. With the millions of people living with chronic wounds, there are also millions of people living with cardiovascular disease. By Cheryl Carver, LPN, WCC, CWCA, CWCP, DAPWCA, FACCWS, CLTC – Wound Educator
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