by Dr Daphne Hazell Lead GP at Homewoundcare
Many people with wound injuries and slow-healing ulcers are keen to do everything they can to get back to normal. They often ask us what they can do themselves to improve their wound or leg ulcer healing.
Food-
Studies have shown that people with wounds need a lot more extra protein in their diet for healing. As we age, we need a higher percentage of protein in our diet, and your protein need can triple with a particularly nasty, wet wound. Protein in meals delivers the amino acids necessary for wound healing and if deficient the body will prioritize the protein needed for muscles over that required for wound healing.
Achieving the recommended protein intake for wound healing can be extremely challenging. People naturally think of eating more meat and fish but many people don’t like to eat meat at every meal or are vegetarian.
Simple ‘swaps’ our experienced wound care nurses suggest are eggs with your morning toast, high protein yogurts instead of standard ones, cereal swaps ( such as Weetabix ‘protein’ for Weetabix), protein pasta- available in health food shops and made from pea protein, high protein snack bars, protein ice-cream and protein shakes.
Vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals in fresh fruit and vegetables also help improve wound healing, and it may be worth discussing taking a supplement to boost these as well. Your wound care specialist nurse will be able to give you advice (based on your weight and your wound) on how much extra protein you need.
You should aim to maintain your weight whilst healing, and then if you need to lose weight, start this again when you have healed.
Alcohol
Alcohol exposure significantly reduces the level of key components of the immune system involved in healing and significantly decreases healing rates. High alcohol use doubles the risk of wound infections. It is amazing to see how even tiny little antimicrobial peptides in the outer layer of skin are reduced in number by a few glasses of your favourite tipple. We recommend cutting down alcohol to an occasional drink, and no more than 2 drinks on any one occasion.
Exercise
Exercise reduces oxidative damage to tissues, reduces inflammation, and maintains well-being.
Keeping on with physical activity is an important part of healing.
By using dressings and medical adhesives that stay secure longer, it is possible to exercise without dressings falling off. We often recommend our clients schedule a wound dressing appointment for after they exercise. We tend to use waterproof dressings for people who exercise vigorously as sweat can break down some adhesives.
Many people find being told not to swim an unpleasant aspect of having a wound, and there are multiple ways around this. It is important however to speak with your specialist nurse to find the right way for you
Homewoundcare.co.uk provides specialist wound nurses, focused on faster, more effective, and more convenient wound care in your home or office.
You will hear the word ULCER being mentioned. Don't be afraid of the word as an ulcer is nearly a wound that is slow healing.
Dressings are a very small part of the healing process. At Homewoundcare.co.uk, we understand and treat the cause of the wound before we consider which dressing to apply. This means that out healing rates will be very high.
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