Have you ever noticed small cuts and bruises disappear on their own without any medication? Our body is a mysterious being. It has the ability to heal on its own.  While small wounds can heal naturally, not all wounds will.

When a normal wound fails to heal completely in the predicted amount of time, it can turn into a chronic wound. If a wound isn’t healed within 90 days of time then it is said to be chronic.

There are many reasons for a wound to turn into a chronic wound and when it happens, the person needs to take good care of the wound. An untreated wound can lead to various other problems like skin ulcers etc.

It is about to read What is a Chronic Wound and understand the risks. Let’s move ahead:

How Do We Get A Chronic Wound?

Here are some of the main causes of a chronic wound:

Poor Supply Of Oxygen To The Wound: Wounds heal in the presence of oxygen. If the wound does not get enough oxygen, it will not heal on its own.

This is why the blood flow is to be paid special attention to. If the blood pressure is low, there will not be enough supply of oxygen to the wound, resulting in poor healing.

Another reason for poor oxygen supply is vein diseases. Such a condition can affect the flow of blood and cause the wound to turn into a chronic wound.

Bacteria Attack: Bacteria is everywhere, from the food we eat to the pen we hold, it is always there. This bacteria can cause a wound to get worsened as an open wound is an invitation to bacteria to feed on.

This can result in an infection that can quickly worsen the situation. Infections can turn wounds into chronic wounds because the bacteria on the skin feed on the dead cells and prevent oxygen from reaching the wound.

Poor Immune System: A person who has a poor immune system is more prone to chronic wounds than a person with a strong immune system. This is because a weak immune system means that the body is less capable to deal with infections which is why a wound can turn into a chronic wound because the healing process takes a lot of time in people who have weaker immune systems.

Swelling: Too much swelling around a wound area can lead to a chronic wound because the specific area doesn’t receive the amount of oxygen it should receive.

Swelling in a body part occurs when a certain vein is damaged or pressurized. It disturbs the flow of blood, causing problems in other parts of the body as well.

Surgeries: Sometimes, the cuts made in surgeries can lead to chronic wounds if not taken care of. This is why one needs to dress all wounds properly and make sure there are no infections.

Chronic Wound Symptoms

Pus accumulated in a wound (green, yellow, brown or milky).

Swelling.

Pain.

Wound gets deeper or larger.

High fever.

Skin turning dark around the wound area.

Tips To Avoid Chronic Wounds

Cleanse the wound with sterile water or visit a doctor to get the germs killed inside the wound by injecting chemicals.

Visit a doctor to cut out any dead tissue area around the wound and remove the pus so that no bacteria can feed on the wound.

Dress the wound so that it can be healed faster and is not left vulnerable to get injured again.

Get pressure wound therapy to vacuum out any pus or bacteria that may have started to make home on the wound.

The Verdict

A chronic wound can cause several issues. It is not just a wound, it turns into an infection and may affect a big part of your body, which is why you must take steps to prevent a chronic wound from happening.

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