1Mdw1 Final Wound Healing - Assessment Answer

Answer

Final Wound Healing

Age-linked dissimilarities in w ound healing have been evidently documented. Even though the elderliesare able to heal most wounds, they have a slow healing process. The inflammatory response is late. Diseases that disturb wound healing are more rampant in the elderly causing more adverse influence on healing than in young adults.Older the patient lesser is the elasticity in skin compared to the young. Skin in old people have it tough to return to its usual shape and color owing to less elasticity. Therefore, older patients have great threat of scarring after wound.

The patient should understand that it is essential to keep woundclean in order to avoid infection. Wound infections are mostly caused due to colonization of wound by bacteria where the wound is not addressed properly. The bacteria may originate from other parts of the body, ordinary flora of skin or the outside environment (Gould & Fulton, 2016). There are various risk factors to wound infections in elderly such as diabetes, repressed immune system, undernourishment etc. infected wound result in a non-healing wound leading to substantial agony and distress. A wound infected patient may experience nonspecific symptoms such as loss of appetite, malady or lessening glycemic control in diabetic patients. An infected wound typically has present of pus.

If the antibiotics are being used to prevent infection of deep wounds the patient should be punctual with the medicine intake and should only consume the dosage as prescribed neither more or less than the duration and dosage prescribed. They should avoid activities that might put stress and strain on the wound or its adjoining areas (Sgonc & Gruber, 2013). Relatively wounds take a little more time to heal during the summer than during the winter. When the wound is kept humid there is less pain, chances of scar is reduced and curing is fast. Sharp, small foreign bodies may also puncture the skin or wound site leaving slight outward wound but causing inner injury and inner bleeding. Smoking tobacco products and alcohol consumption affects wound healing negatively and increases the time for wound to heal (Gould & Abadir, 2015). It also increases the chances of wound rupture and infection. Even as little as a single unit of alcohol intake can affect wound healing negatively and increase time taken for wound to close and production of collagen.

Without appropriate nourishment, process of wound healing can be adversely impacted. A poor nutrition can turn an ordinary wound into a lingering wound. Therefore, it is necessary to eat ample calories from a well-adjusted diet of nutritious food. In order to heal a wound patient should consume more vitamin, mineral, protein and anti-oxidants in their nutrition than they had been consuming before the patient had been wounded as nutrients are also lost from the fluid discharge of wounds. Elderly have less appetite and they might have trouble gathering their nutritional necessities due to a reduced dietary consumption so they should be more careful about their food intake.The food should be peak in protein and should also contain fruits, grains, green leafy vegetables and dairy products. Vitamin A is also a good antioxidant and helps to reduce inflammation. Red fruits and green leafy vegetables are good source of vitamin A (Jaret, 2013). Vitamin C has been recognized to help skin and flesh wounds heal sooner. oranges, strawberries, broccoli, peppers along with other citrus fruits are good source vitamin C. Proteins are building block for generating new cells. Fish, skinless chicken, lean turkey, red meats, nuts and seeds, egg without yolk are good source of protein. Dairy products are also a decent source of protein and calcium. Vitamin D of dairy product increasesabsorption of calcium which aids damaged muscles and bone to heal. They shouldalso drink plenty amount of water to remain hydrated and sugared drinks should be avoided.

References

Gould, L. & Abadir, P., 2015. Chronic Wound Repair and Healing in Older Adults: Current Status and Future Research. US National Library of Medicine, 63(3), pp. 427-438.

Gould, L. & Fulton, A., 2016. Wound Healing in Older Adults. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 99(2), pp. 34-36.

Jaret, P., 2013. Older Adults: 9 Nutrients You May Be Missing. [Online]
Available at: https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/missing-nutrients#1
[Accessed 13 August 2018].

Sgonc, R. & Gruber, J., 2013. Age-Related Aspects of Cutaneous Wound Healing: A Mini-Review. Karger, 59(2), pp. 159-164.