Diet – poor food choices may deprive the body of the nutrients it needs to heal the wound, such as vitamin C, zinc and protein. Medical conditions – such as diabetes, anaemia and some vascular diseases that restrict blood flow to the area, or any disorder that hinders the immune system.
Infection. A common cause of delayed wound healing is infection. At the time of injury, microorganisms can enter the tissue. These microbes can delay wound healing by further prolonging the inflammatory process.
Vitamin C has many roles in wound healing, and a deficiency in this vitamin has multiple effects on tissue repair. Vitamin C deficiencies result in impaired healing, and have been linked to decreased collagen synthesis and fibroblast proliferation, decreased angiogenesis, and increased capillary fragility.
"The body's capacity to repair the skin diminishes as we get older. There aren't as many growth factors and stem cells in the skin. Chronic disease, especially blood vessel disease, and malnutrition can also slow the healing process," says Dr.
Slow-healing wounds, including leg and foot ulcers, are a known complication of several autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lupus and scleroderma. For many people, these wounds can take months or even years to heal.
Some common autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus, are relatively easy to diagnose, while others, such as vasculitis, Addison's disease, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases, are more difficult.
Clean your wound thoroughly with water and soap to clear it of dirt or other germs. Apply a topical agent to help keep the wound moist and prevent infection. Cover your wound, as some moisture is important and helps to heal it. Remove dead or necrotic tissue around or on the wound that is impeding the healing process.
Blood tests
There are three main blood tests which need to be done any time a wound is slow to heal: HbA1C (to check for diabetes/pre-diabetes); full blood count (to check for iron deficiency anaemia); ferritin (a secondary marker for iron deficiency anaemia).
Vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc help your body to repair tissue damage, fight infections, and keep your skin healthy. Try to eat foods from the lists below. Vitamin A is found in animal foods and some brightly coloured vegetables and fruits. Many vegetables and fruits are high in vitamin C.
Lack of vitamin B can affect wound healing in a number of ways as it is required for many processes. These include: Being required for collagen linkage. Ensuring a healthy immune system that is able to fight infection.
While it is best to eat a variety of foods to ensure you get all the nutrients you need for wound healing, some good choices include: Foods high in minerals: oysters, spinach, nuts such as cashews, legumes such as peanuts, dairy products, black beans and lentils, bananas, and fish.
In fact, several studies have uncovered that higher levels of anxiety and depression even before surgery have been associated with poorer outcomes and can affect wound healing. Further, chronic or slow healing wounds that aren't properly treated can get worse; resulting in infection and longer hospital stays.
Therefore, the intake of three most basic vitamins such as A, B, C is extremely important during recovery procedure. They will not only heal the injury quickly, but also help you to get rid of wound infection.
The Link Between Autoimmune Disease and Women
Doctors aren't sure why autoimmune disease happens in the first place or why women are affected more than men. One theory is that higher levels of hormones in women, especially during the childbearing years, could make women more susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms that affect your brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including: numbness. muscle weakness. psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety, to confusion and dementia.
A lack of magnesium has been shown to aggravate the inflammatory response. Consuming more magnesium, on the other hand, helps relieve inflammation and promote faster regeneration of injured tissues. Good sources of magnesium include whole grains, spinach, quinoa, almonds, black beans, and avocadoes.