Are you experiencing dull aching, heaviness, cramping, and pain that worsen when you stand? You might have venous insufficiency, one of the common causes of venous ulcers. In this case, your leg veins fail to adequately pump blood back to the heart, resulting in pooling in the lower legs. This causes swelling, and as it gets extreme, it puts excessive pressure on your skin, resulting in venous ulcers. The Villages venous ulcers could also be due to varicose veins, a condition where the valves fail to function as they should, allowing blood to pool.
Venous ulcers are open skin sores resulting from circulation problems. While they can occur anywhere, they are common in the legs. When you get a scrape or a cut, the healing process begins to close the wound, but in the case of venous ulcers, this takes longer and requires proper care. Among the wound care tips that can help include:
- Keep it clean and bandaged, preventing infections
- Keep the skin around the wound moisturized and clean
- Avoid harsh products, especially those that can cause skin sensitivity
- Apply topical medicine or antibacterial ointment helping to prevent or treat infections
- Take oral antibiotics to prevent/treat infection
- Wear compression stockings to improve circulation, preventing pooling and excessive pressure that slows wound healing
- Place your feet above heart level, especially when sleeping
- Take walks and exercise to improve blood flow
- Follow your prescription
You can speed up the healing process with effective venous ulcer care, but going the extra mile to prevent recurrence is recommended. While risk factors like aging and genetic predisposition are beyond your control, you can do a lot to lower the chances of developing venous ulcers. This starts by preventing vein problems, which you can manage by adopting healthier habits. Among the lifestyle tips to keep venous ulcers chances at bay include:
Quit smoking
Smoking causes damage to your blood vessels, increasing the chances of chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.
Weight management
Venous ulcers are prevalent in individuals who are overweight or obese. The extra weight increases pressure in the leg veins. In addition, the weakened calf muscles further affect circulation. This results in higher chances of blood pooling and venous ulcers.
Manage other health conditions
Diabetes affects the immune system, slowing wound healing. Ensuring you follow a blood glucose management regimen, from medication to nutrition, will help improve venous ulcer healing. This also applies to high blood pressure and cholesterol since they impact circulations. Stress management and ensuring you are getting quality sleep are also crucial, giving your body the rest it needs for self-repair.
Proper nutrition
Your body requires being well-nourished for improved functionality. Stick to a healthy diet regimen and drink enough water.
Stay active
The pain and discomfort can make it harder to stay active, but it is crucial. Exercise as much as possible, helping improve circulation and speed up wound healing.
Venous ulcer care and prevention measures can speed healing and avoid potential complications. Call your doctor when you experience increased drainage, or it changes into a cloudy/yellowish color if you notice an odor, bleeding, chills, fever, increased pain, swelling, or warmth around the wound. Visit Vascular Vein Centers to learn more about venous ulcers, treatment, care, and prevention