Tag-Archive for » pressure mattress «

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010 | Author: admin

Many people may not realize it, but the mattress you sleep on at night plays a major role in the quality of sleep you get throughout a lifetime.  Sleeping on the wrong mattress can be terrible for your back and terrible for you overall health in the long term.  Sleeping on the wrong kind of mattress may be causing you prolonged back pains, muscle weakness, muscle tightness, fatigue, as well as sleepless nights.  Many people may be sleeping on the wrong mattress and not even know it.

When shopping for a suitable mattress, many things must be considered.  You need to understand what exact type of mattress you’re looking for, what type of mattress quality you’re seek, and what you are looking accomplish, if anything, with your back and spine health needs.  When you can clearly answer all these questions, then you are on your way to finding the best mattress for you.  Do you have any lingering health or back problems that may be caused by an improper mattress you once used?  Does your back need more support than others, or would a zero density foam mattress be too light for your sleeping needs?

When shopping for a mattress, always remember that quality is king.  The higher the quality mattress you buy, the longer it will last as well as bring you higher levels of support and comfort.  However, higher quality does not always mean more expensive, so make sure to do your research first when finding the highest quality mattress to meet your needs.  You also need to make sure you’re clear about the correct size of the mattress you’re looking for, as well as whether you’re looking for a soft, medium, to hard density type of mattress.  If you’re suffering from poor posture and associated back problems, a harder density mattress might be better for you, while someone with stiff back problems may find a lower density foam mattress more to their liking.

However, one of the best mattresses out there today that is great for a wide assortment of back problems and provides great spine support is an alternating pressure mattress.  An alternating pressure mattress may come in many different shapes and sizes including foam and other viscoelastic space age materials, that alternate pressure throughout the mattress to give you the most amount of comfort and pressure possible.  This kind of mattress is great for people who may have long, lingering back problems, and nothing seems to work just right.  Alternating pressure mattresses are also great for the elderly and the bedridden who may be stuck in their beds for long periods of time.  This mattress can provide extra comfort and relief as well as help to prevent ulcers and blood boils that may form from long periods of inactivity.

The most important thing to remember when shopping for the right kind of mattress is that everyone is different, with different shapes and sizes, and no two individuals’ back health will ultimately be the same.  By first properly understanding your own back care needs, then doing the appropriate research involved, you will better be able to understand the kind of mattress you need to be sleeping on.  If you’re going to spend one-third of your life on some form of mattress or another, make sure it is the best possible mattress for you.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Friday, May 21st, 2010 | Author: admin

A major question floating around today amongst mattress consumers is what the best type of mattress available today is.  Pretty much, what is the best mattress in the business, the best mattress money can buy?  While this may seem like a simple question, the answer is found to be much more complex.  While there has been top of the line to low quality mattresses ever since they invented mattresses, this doesn’t always mean the most expensive mattresses are really the best mattresses overall.  More importantly, are these mattresses guaranteed to last, and stand the test of time, or will they just fall apart within the first 3 years?

When trying to find the best mattress in the market, many things have to be considered.  While mattress prices range from lower to higher quality, the most expensive mattress does not always mean it is the mattress with the highest quality.  Different mattresses are built to serve different needs, and certain mattresses may be more expensive than others just based on the different kinds of needs they provide. Some bariatric mattresses for instance, may be made to fit a particular person, or larger individual, but might rank up there in price.  However, when it comes to quality, therapeutic alternating pressure mattresses are typically the best you will find out there.

Therapeutic alternating pressure mattresses are not only great for the elderly, disabled, and overweight, they are also excellent for anyone concerned with having the highest quality of sleep possible.  Anyone who wants a good and healthy night’s sleep will benefit from a good therapeutic alternating pressure mattress.  Therapeutic alternating pressure mattresses work by distributing body weight throughout the bed, eliminating stress and strain from different parts of the body at the same time.  This allows the entire body to relax, eliminating pressure from different parts of the body that may not be getting enough oxygen while you sleep.

Not only are therapeutic alternating pressure mattresses some of the best mattresses in the market today, they are also some of the most durable.  Normal mattresses are said to last 7-10 years at the most, while a good therapeutic alternating pressure mattress can last anywhere up to 40 years.  Also, high quality alternating mattresses do not typically wear down over time like many traditional mattresses do, and typically keep the same shape and mattress density throughout the entire lifecycle of the mattress.  This will not only give you a mattress that you can rely on for years and years to come, but it will even save you money in the long term.

While there are so many different types of mattresses available today, what ultimately constitutes a great mattress is one that has your particular health needs in mind.  While an alternating pressure mattress may be the best mattress for some people, it may not be the best choice for others.  The best thing you can do is to consult with a knowledgeable expert to discuss your particular back sensitivity, or your therapeutic needs, and what would be the very best type of mattress for you.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Thursday, May 13th, 2010 | Author: admin

Anyone who is bedridden and suffers from Alzheimer’s has 10 vital needs that must be met by his or her caregiver to ensure they remain as healthy as possible:

1.Prevention of skin decay and pressure sores
Bedridden patients must be re-positioned regularly to prevent bedsores from forming.

It is easier to prevent pressure sores than to heal them, thus get the help of an alternating pressure mattress to move the patient regularly, or move him or her yourself at least every two hours, from left to right, to release the pressure in certain body areas.  If you are moving the patient, use pillows to support the position.

A balanced diet and the ingestion of lots of liquid will help keep the bedridden Alzheimer’s patient’s skin healthy.

2.Getting out of bed for some hours every day
Every bedridden patient should leave the bed for a few hours every day.  Now, there is equipment available to help any caregiver get the most severely disabled person into a chair.

Sitting for a while helps relieve pressure spots, especially on the back, shoulder blades, back of the head, and hips.

3.Learning to do passive movements
This is necessary to prevent joints from seizing, and thus, caregivers must learn how to do this.

Passive movements have to do with moving the joints without the patient exerting any effort.

4.Eating and drinking well
It is normal for bedridden patients not wanting to eat or drink, because they usually have poor appetite, find it hard to swallow, are depressed, and feel sick.

A dietician may give you good advice as to how to choose the best diet for a bedridden patient, what food supplement drinks are good, how to liquefy foods, and what feeding aids may help you.

5.Keeping mouth, eyes, ears, and general hygiene levels high
Bedridden patients must be cleaned regularly, especially if they suffer from incontinence.

Do not forget to take care of the mouth and teeth.

Let the patient use glasses or hearing aids until these become uncomfortable or dangerous.

6.Dealing with incontinence
At some point, Alzheimers patients will suffer from urinary and/or fecal incontinence.  The caregiver must train to be able to take care of these episodes in a way that is comfortable for the patient.

There are many products today that help in these situations.

7.Lowering the risk of injury
If the patient tends to fall, put his or her mattress and springs on the floor.

Make sure you use the right support and bed cot sides.  Avoid using restraint unless it is an emergency.

8.    Massaging and touching
Massages soothe and relieve pain.  The caregiver must massage the patient’s arms, hands, and legs with oil or moisturizer.  This will improve the skin’s condition, and will prevent dryness and irritation.

Touching the patient with care is very important to reassure the person that someone cares for him or her.  Comb or stroke their hair with love, and hold their hand while talking to them.

9.Focusing on what they enjoy
A bedridden patient must have regular activities.  Talk to them, show them pictures, play music, or read to them.

Try to maintain the activities you know they loved.

Try to take them outdoors to breathe fresh air and feel the sun on their skin.

10.Giving them a view
Locate their bed near a window with a nice view, but make sure the sun and heat do not hit them directly during the day.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 | Author: admin

Very often, elderly people end up sitting in a living room or lying down in bed permanently with little or no stimulation.

As they age, people lose the capacity to move freely.  It is common that they end up bedridden or on a wheelchair, dependant on a pressure mattress or on your help to move, and with very few activities that fuel their minds.

Here we offer you 5 ideas to stimulate your loved one’s mind while he or she ages, so that they can enjoy a better quality of life even if they have to remain in bed permanently:

1.An elder person’s room has to have decoration that stimulates the mind.  People who have to stay in bed for long periods of time end up depressed and looking at the ceiling if they are not offered opportunities to activate their minds.

Hang up beautiful and colorful posters with images that interest the person, and even attach them to the ceiling, but make sure they are well fixed to avoid accidents.

If the person has traveled a lot, choose images to remind him or her of past trips. If they like animals, hang up animal pictures. If they like movies, find old movie posters and make their room look like a cinema, or you may enlarge their favorite family and youth photos and hang them around the room to prompt your loved one to tell stories about his or her life.

Rotate the posters every once in a while to stimulate the mind even more and to make the room look different.

2.Put some shelves around the room within your loved one’s line of sight and place interesting items on them.  You can put photos, cards, and colorful objects.

Move or replace the items regularly to create interest, and find out if your loved one notices.

3.Put a basket near the bed or chair, in a place that is easily reachable, so that your bedridden loved one is able to grab the items in it without help.

You can put inside small photo albums, magazines, books, or puzzles.

4.Anything that is used in the room can help stimulate your loved one’s mind and prompt conversations.

Fill the room with flowers and plants so that your loved one is in contact with nature.  They can even do some gardening from their bed.

Play soft music constantly; classical music is great, and let them talk about the composer and the piece they are listening to.  Very often, music brings back fond memories.

5.Bedridden people must be in contact with others; they must talk about memories, family times, or about a specific object or poster in their bedroom.  Invite people they love to visit as often as possible to prompt interesting and happy conversations.

When interesting objects and lots of color are placed within a bedridden person’s eye level, you are giving him or her the gift of mind stimulation in addition to making their living space look beautiful, cozy, bright, and happy.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 | Author: admin

Bedridden patients can benefit greatly from a massage.  A pressure mattress is crucial, but not enough, to stimulate the tissues, muscles, and organs in the body; hence, a massage works great to improve the patient’s circulation and to invigorate the muscles to avoid their atrophy.

But, the benefits of a massage in bedridden patients go beyond the physical aspect.  This kind of therapy also makes them feel calmer and reduces stress, helping alleviate pain.

There are 3 types of massages that you can recommend to your bedridden loved one:

1.Myofascial massage
This massage involves the whole body and it is done to relieve the tension in the fascia, which is the fibrous connective tissue that ties muscles and organs together in the body.

The physiotherapist uses long and stretching movements to relax the muscles that are tense.  It is a soft massage that can help alleviate pain.

With slow, steady rubs that are directed towards the heart, blood flow through the body is increased, and in this way, additional oxygen and nutrients can flow more easily to the tissues to enhance the healing process and to relieve pain.

The movement works out the heart muscle and offers training support to the arteries.

2.Swedish massage
This type of massage is more aggressive than the myofascial and is recommended for patients who suffer from muscles spasms and acute pain.  The movements of the Swedish massage affect the muscles, joints, ligaments, and fascia.

Besides improving circulation, this massage enhances breathing capability, reduces the swelling produced by fluid retention, soothes the nerves, and improves flexibility and joint range of motion.

To enhance the healing benefits, the physiotherapist uses hot and cold applications while doing the massage.  Depending on the patient’s level of comfort, the rubs can be gentle or strong.

The ligaments are massaged along and across to stimulate the drainage of toxins and flexibility, and the strong vertical rubs imitate the effects of exercise.

The therapist uses fast vibrating movements to help clear the lungs, to control muscle and joint pain, and to generate muscle contractions.  To alleviate aching joints and to produce a feeling of wellness, the Swedish massage includes compression done with warm oil.

3.Geriatric massage
This type of massage uses many techniques and is tailored to the patient.  It treats emotional states as much as physical ones that are normal in elderly people, and is mainly used in hospitals and nursing homes to help seniors that are bedridden.

People who have to remain in bed for long periods of time need soft massage rubs with oil to help alleviate bedsores and pressure points, and it is also vital to consider arthritis, high blood pressure, brittle bones, and hardened arteries, when defining a massage routine for the elderly.

The geriatric massage may use techniques from the Swedish and myofascial types, plus others from more gentle therapies like Reiki and aromatherapy.  The physiotherapist must be specially trained to deal with the needs of bedridden seniors to ensure the patient is professionally cared for.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Friday, April 16th, 2010 | Author: admin

If being bedridden is difficult for an adult, imagine what it can be like for a child, a little person who is supposed to be running around, playing, exploring, and discovering the world.

It is very difficult to acknowledge that your child is sick and can’t move.  Some are bedridden only temporarily, but for others, the condition may be for life, and are forced to remain in bed permanently, aided by a caregiver and special equipment, like a pressure mattress and wheelchair, to make their life easier and more comfortable.

For these kids, the opportunity to develop their minds becomes crucial.  It is particularly challenging to entertain bedridden children with intelligent and fun activities.  The caregiver has to be careful to choose educational and stimulating TV and DVD shows, and must try to find other activities to complement these.

There are many toys that help keep their minds active, like jigsaws, puzzles, drawing and craft materials, and musical instruments.  Here we offer a list of toys that will help parents stimulate their bedridden little ones:

1.Arts and crafts
Not all arts and crafts require paint or glue; there are many simple activities that will keep a bedridden child busy for hours.  Knitting or making friendship bracelets and necklaces will make a girl’s day, and origami will greatly stimulate an intelligent boy.

2.Activity books
There are books full of mind stimulating activities for bedridden children.  You can get older kids crossword puzzles and number games like Sudoku, and coloring books, connect-the-dots activities, and maze puzzles for the younger ones.

3.Puzzles
Talk about variety!  Today you can find all sorts of interesting puzzles to challenge and amuse children of every age, for example, jigsaw puzzles, three-dimensional puzzles, and character puzzles.  A puzzle can easily entertain a child the whole day.

4.Miniature models
Kids today love building airplanes, ships, cars, dinosaurs, and any other kind of models that they can get.  You can also get them scientific models to build a robot, a recycled catamaran, or a mini electric generator.  If your kid likes to challenge himself, these will make his day.

5.Electronic video games
Video games are the delight of children of every age and condition.  If you give your bedridden child a video game console, don’t expect him to put it down easily.  You have to seriously talk to him about the rules for playing with it and establish playing schedules that must be met strictly.

6.Books
Children’s literature today offers a wide array of interesting stories to entertain kids of all ages.  Get your child his or her favorite saga and enjoy watching them read it and ask for more.  You can also get your child audio books if they are somehow unable to hold a book.

7.Musical instruments
Encourage your child to learn to play an instrument, there are many options that fit a bedridden patient, for example, the flute, the clarinet, the violin, the guitar, and even piano may do.  Children who play an instrument develop a special sensitivity and unique understanding of life, as well as a sharp ability for numbers.

8.Board games
These are a classic.  Among the best ones to develop the mind, we can name chess, Backgammon, card games, Scrabble, and Pictionary, but there are hundreds of other options.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Monday, April 12th, 2010 | Author: admin

Many people are bedridden due to a disease or other medical condition, and they are commonly not able to perform normal everyday physical activities.

After surgery, there are patients who may have to remain in bed for long periods of time during their recovery, and other people may have disabling diseases or injuries that may chain them to a bed for years or even their whole life.

This is not easy to accept and deal with. Besides the obvious frustration and sadness these people feel in the face of their condition, they have to learn to function effectively and normally again while remaining in bed. They have to learn to be independent, and in many cases, they have to learn to welcome the help of others.

These 8 products are essential to help bedridden patients simplify many of the normal complications they face in their daily life and also to help ease the job of the caregivers:

1.Hospital beds and accessories
These are the most basic products a bedridden patient needs.  The bed is the main element in the patient’s care environment, be it at home or at other types of caring facilities.

A hospital bed helps position the patient and keeps him or her safe, which is not possible with a normal bed.  There are fully electric and semi-electric models that are easier for patients and caregivers to control.

Over bed tables are a very popular accessory used with the bed.  Their height is adjustable; some models have a tilt-top, others have two stages, and still others are of low height range.

2.Pressure relief mattresses
The pressure mattress or low air loss mattress is indispensable to prevent and heal pressure sores, which are the most common complication bedridden patients experience.

Anyone who has to remain in bed or on a wheelchair for long periods of time can get pressure sores.  These are injuries caused by unrelieved pressure that hurts the skin and its underlying tissues by squeezing minute blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the skin.

Pressure relief mattresses are very effective in helping heal and prevent these injuries and in easing the care giving process considerably.

3.Patient lifts
These are the most common transfer tools used by caregivers to easily and safely move someone who has lost his or her body movement capabilities.  They can be driven mechanically or electrically, and help avoid the risk of injury both for the patient and the caregiver.

4.Wheelchairs
These are the best tools for patients to move independently, even if it is only for a few hours.

5.Patient alarms
Bedridden patients easily fall when trying to leave the bed or chair, or when taking a shower.  In order to prevent this from happening so often, patient alarms have been designed to monitor patients and alert caregivers when immediate help is required.

6.Shower wheelchairs
These solve the personal hygiene needs of patients with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities.  They are designed to make the person as independent as possible; thus, they can be used over the toilet and in the shower.

7.Personal care
There are countless options of personal care products for bedridden patients.  Among the best we can count:
-Personal massagers
-Incontinence pants
-Massaging foot spas
-Steam inhalers
-Foot care
-Inflatable bath pillows
-Water bottles
-Self-wipe bathroom toilet aids
-Heel and elbow protectors
-Disposable liners
-Bed pans
-Limb holders
-Mealtime protectors
-Temperature monitors
-Cast and bandage protectors
-Male and female urinals
-Instruction cards
-Wetness alert devices
-Wraps
-Ice bags
-Neck rests
-Hair rinsers
-Bed shampoo kits
-Protective helmets

8.Air chairs
These can be used as wheelchairs or can turn any chair into a pressure relief system to help prevent pressure sores while sitting.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention http://www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | Author: admin

Bedridden patients, whether confined to bed for an indefinite period as they recuperate from injury or surgery, or if they are going to be bedridden for the long term, need specialized care and equipment to provide comfort and maintain good  health.  Fortunately, many of these specialized necessities are available for patients who are being cared for at home, and can be prescribed by physicians to make the job of caregivers much easier to manage.  Some of the most essential items for care are described below:

.Hospital Beds
The hospital bed is probably the most necessary of all equipment as it is where the patient spends most of their time.  Beds range from manually operated to full electric Adjustments can be made easily to help the caregiver provide the patient with the utmost comfort.  These beds are also on wheels which makes it much easier to place them in the most convenient locations.  The bed itself consists of a metal frame with head and foot boards and metal springs.  Side rails can be installed as an extra safety precaution where necessary.

.Special Mattresses
One of the biggest health risks to the bedridden patient is the development of pressure sores.  These painful ailments can be prevented by the regular use of a low air loss mattress or a pressure relief air mattress.  By gradually inflating and deflating, these special mattresses can gently turn the patient throughout the course of the day thus relieving pressure points that can develop into skin wounds.

.Over bed Tables
These tables that are fully adjustable and move easily on castors are a must have for both patient and caregiver aid.  They are invaluable for feeding, bathing and putting the items that the patient may need throughout the day within easy reach.   Some styles even offer a tilt option for the patient who likes, and is able to do various activities such as writing letters, doing puzzles or reading.

.Patient Lifts
One of the most difficult chores for the caregiver of a bedridden patient is lifting them out of bed for personal care or therapy, or transferring them to a chair for a change of scenery.  Patient lifts can make this job much less physically draining for both the caregiver and the patient.  Like hospital beds, theses lifts come in varying degrees of automation.

.Wheel Chair
Providing an opportunity to get out of bed and enjoy a change of scenery is very important to the health and well being of any patient.  A wheel chair provides a means for patients to get outside, move to a community room for socializing, or sit up to a dining table to enjoy a comfortable meal time.  The feeling of independence that a wheel chair can provide is very vital to every patient’s sense of self-esteem and dignity.

When searching for information about the equipment you need for your situation, be sure to inquire about the availability of used equipment and rentals.  Both are usually available and can really help to stretch your care giving budget.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.volkner.com as the original source).

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Thursday, March 11th, 2010 | Author: admin

Living with pressure sores is never an enjoyable experience. If you are at risk of developing them, or you are taking care of someone who might be at risk, get informed about pressure sores to avoid developing these unpleasant injuries.
This guide will tell you the best ways to prevent and care for pressure sores.

What are pressure sores and what causes them?

Pressure sores are also described as bed sores, pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers. They are formed when constant pressure on part of the skin causes the blood vessels feeding that part to shut down. At first, this causes a red or dark patch on the skin. As further pressure is applied, the skin continues to deteriorate, breaking down to form blisters and dead skin, and then going on to affect underlying tissues, bones and joints.

Pressure sores can appear on any part of the body, but will usually develop on parts most susceptible to pressure when sitting or lying down, e.g., the lower back, buttocks, shoulders, hips, heels, knees and ankles.

In general, people who are bed-bound or in wheelchairs are particularly susceptible to developing bed pressure sores. Other factors that increase the likelihood of developing these sores include old age, immobility, incontinence, malnutrition and dehydration, diseases that slow healing, mental disorders that result in a lack of awareness about the body’s condition and the taking of certain medications such as sedatives.

How will I know if I have a pressure sore?
There are four stages of severity in the development of a pressure sore.
-  Initially, you may find it appears as a red area of skin (or a darker area of skin than normal on darker skins). It is a mark that doesn’t disappear after a few hours and may also feel tender. Sometimes, the initial appearance of a pressure sore may appear like a bruise – purple in color and painful to touch.
- The second stage may include a partial loss of skin that may appear as a blister, shallow crater or abrasion.
- The third stage of severity involves a full skin loss which extends to the underlying skin tissue.
- The last stage involves a total skin loss and the sore extends to the underlying tissue, muscle and bone.

How do I treat existing sores?
Properly caring for your existing pressure sore is the best way to promote healing and prevent it from becoming more severe. You might be caring for your pressure sores yourself or have a caregiver who cares for them, but it is always best to be informed about the process. Here are four main steps that need to be followed:

1. Pressure relief
Continuing to place pressure on an existing pressure sore will aggravate the sore and prevent it from healing. Instead, it is essential to relieve the area from any form of pressure. If possible invest in a pressure-reliving mattress or pressure relieving aids such as cushions to help you.

2. Cleaning
Pressure sores will heal well if they are kept clean and it will also ensure the prevention of infection. This means they should be free of dead tissue, have excess fluid drained away from the sore and should also be clear of any other debris. A healthcare professional should show you how to clean or rinse the sore and also how to wipe away any loose material. The right equipment and methods should be used too. If too much force is used, it can aggravate the sore or if not enough force is used, the wound may not be cleansed properly.

3. Removing dead tissue
Dead tissue which is present in the pressure sore can lead to infection and prevent the sore from healing. Your healthcare professional will usually carry out the process of removing the dead tissue. Since it may be painful, a pain-reliever may be taken beforehand. Procedures that may be used can range from simply rinsing the sore to applying enzyme medications to dissolve the dead tissue. In rare cases, surgery to remove deeply embedded dead tissue may be required.

4. Dressings
It is important to choose the right dressings to care for your pressure sores. Speak to your healthcare professional about the different types available. You will require different types depending on the type that will best aid healing, how often the dressing needs to be changed and whether or not the sore is infected.  Dressings are normally required to keep the sore moist and the surrounding skin dry.

What else should I know?
When cleaning your sores, it is a good time to check for signs that it is healing well. Ideally, you should see signs of a sore healing within 2 to 4 weeks. This includes seeing a decrease in the size and depth of a sore and a decrease in drainage.
Also, you should look out for any signs that the sore has become infected as the infection can spread to the underlying tissues, bones and even to the rest of the body. Signs of infection include having think green or yellow drainage, a foul odor, redness, warmth or tenderness surrounding the sore and swelling. Watch out for signs of fever, chills, weakness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and rapid heart beat that can indicate the infection might have spread throughout the body. If you are concerned and experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

To manage the pain that pressure sores cause, changing your body position is often a factor that helps. In addition, some patients may choose toe an over-the-counter pain reliever or ask their doctor for a prescription.

How can I avoid developing pressure sores?

There are many ways to prevent pressure sores from occurring. Try to incorporate the following tips into your daily routine:

-    Examine yourself very carefully ever day for any signs of sores developing. Recognizing you have a sore developing at an early stage will help you take care of it and prevent it from becoming more severe.
-    Eat a nutritious and balanced diet, with extra protein to help keep your skin tissue healthy. A good diet will ensure your body has what it needs to heal itself well and cope with infection.
-    Use barrier creams or protective creams to protect areas that are susceptible to becoming moist.
-    Protect vulnerable areas of your body from pressure, fiction and moisture. If you are in a wheelchair or undertaking bed rest, it is essential that you change your body position every two hours (or it is recommended that those sitting down change positions every hour). Your caregiver or physician can give you guidance on which positions are best to use.
-    Keep you skin clean, dry and well-moisturized. Moisturize your skin thoroughly after washing as skin can be weakened when it dries out. Avoid using talcum powder which depletes the skin’s natural oils.
-    Make sure any existing sores are cleaned, dressed and bandaged properly.
-    Drink at least 2 liters of fluid a day.
-    Make sure there are no wrinkles or crumbs on your bed sheets or chair.
-    Go to great lengths to avoid rubbing areas of your skin that could get sore. This includes avoiding dragging your heels or elbows when moving around in bed.
-    Invest in pressure-relieving aids such as pillows, sheepskins and foam pads. The best investment patients can make to prevent pressures sores is buying a good pressure mattress. These mattresses are designed to relieve any pressure that is exerted on a patient when lying down. Some designs even help reposition the patient’s weight every few minutes, meaning there is no need to continually reposition them. Pressure-relieving mattresses are one of the best tools used to prevent the development of pressure sores.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.volkner.com as the original source).

Everything You Need To Know About Caring For Pressure Sores
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