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Bed Sores, also otherwise known as pressure ulcers, occur when there has been a prolonged period of pressure on skin resulting in skin injury or underlying tissue.

They commonly develop when the blood flow is stopped or limited to a particular area of the body. Limited or no movement can make your skin more vulnerable to tissue damage, leading to development of bed sores. 

This kind of pressure takes place in areas of the body that aren’t well padded or surrounded by enough fat to avoid injury or friction.

For e.g.elbows, tailbone, hips, shoulder blades or heels. 

Risk factors and how Bed Sores can be prevented:

The risk of developing this condition is elevated due to immobility or in a situation where one can’t reposition themselves to avoid stress on the skin.

A lot of risk factors lead to the eventual breakdown of tissues resulting in friction, pressure, and shear of skin that could develop into a wound like Bed sores.

Some of the factors that cause or elevate the risk of having Bed Sores include:

1. Poor nutrition: 

When the body doesn’t have enough vitamins, minerals, proteins or nutrients for healthy skin tissue, Bed Sores are  much more likely to occur.

1. Conditions affecting blood flow:

In conditions like Diabetes or a vascular disease, blood flow is affected and can increase risk of tissue damage leading to Bed Sores.

• Immobility:

Due to a spinal cord injury or an accident that has rendered one’s body incapable of moving, bed sores and other skin wounds are likely to occur.

• Lack of sensation:

Accident related injuries or neurological disorders can result in a loss of sensation. An inability to feel any sensory perception or discomfort can lead to not catching warning signs and the need to reposition yourself. 

There are ways to prevent or catch warning signs of a condition like Bed sores. Some of the early clues of skin undergoing pressure or friction can help us take necessary precautions to avoid further injury or complications.

You can consider the following points as steps that may help prevent & treat skin conditions like Bed sores:

• Repositioning

Repositioning your body or shifting weight frequently to adjust position may decrease skin pressure or friction.

In some cases, a patient may have suffered an accident or trauma rendering them immobile. One can ask for help for repositioning every hour or so.

If you happen to be in a wheelchair due to an injury, try gathering enough upper body strength to lift yourself up and avoid skin tissue damage.

• Selecting mattresses or cushions to help relieve pressure

Air mattresses are specifically designed to prevent pressure ulcers or skin tissue damage.

They are constructed with multiple inflated air tubes that make it possible to adjust pressure levels by controlling the air using a knob on its pump. 

The low air mattresses are a highly recommended form of treatment to alleviate pressure on wounds and provide soothing relief to those suffering from this condition and the subsequent pain.

As they are lightweight, soft, and extremely durable, air mattresses can be used at home, in hospitals, or even while traveling for patients with bedsores. 

Air mattresses make for a strong surface support in a way that protects vulnerable skin. 

• Maintaining good nutrition

 A healthy diet and proper lifestyle promotes faster healing of wounds.

 Consulting a good nutritionist or dietician who can monitor personal nutritional          needs by recommending a good diet will ensure continuous healing of wounds. 

 A balanced lifestyle with enough nutritional intake not only strengthens immunity, it    makes our bodies less susceptible to such injuries or tissue breakdowns.

• Surgery

A recurrent or large bedsore that fails to heal itself might require a medical intervention like surgery.

This may require a patient undergoing a surgical process to remove the damaged tissue in order for the wound to completely heal.       

It is always wise to consult a medical professional before weighing in your options for undergoing a treatment as such. Oftentimes, Surgeries are recommended to accelerate the healing process. 

As Bedsores continue to be a common nuisance among those who are rendered immobile due to a medical condition over extended periods of time, there are a few lifestyle factors that place you at a higher risk for Bedsores.

• Stress

As Bedsores are also called pressure sores or ulcers, stress can be a major contributing factor to manifest as Bedsores on your skin. 

Any physical or mental stress can have a great impact on skin health and it would be wise to manage stress that could increase the likelihood of pressure ulcers.

• Skin hygiene 

It is important to maintain a healthy skin routine that keeps excessive moisture, stool or bacteria away from it. 

Changing bedding regularly and cleaning skin is a must to avoid this condition. Any fabric or cloth that might irritate the skin should also be changed for precaution.

• Nutritional Deficiency

Those who are malnutritioned, or suffer from major nutritional  deficiencies, dehydration, or obesity are at a heightened risk to develop Bedsores. 

Lack of adequate water or limited blood flow puts people in danger of developing such pressure wounds.

• Lack of movement

Any new born with an illness or elderly patients unable to move as much are likely to get Bedsores. 

The latter might suffer from clogged arteries, cholesterol or a clinical condition that limits normal blood flow, thereby causing Bedsores or pressure wounds.

After all, it is impaired mobility or immobility that is most likely to cause pressure ulcers.

Even those with a thin or fragile skin suffer tissue breakdown easily compared to others.

As treatment or management of Bed sores usually depends upon the severity of your condition, it can be a difficult journey to undertake.

Depending upon the stage of your bed sores wound, treatments are often a mixed variety of dressings, repositioning, surgery, medical supervision, diet or lifestyle changes and surface support.