A wound that doesn’t heal can significantly impact your quality of life and potentially lead to more serious health problems. Advanced treatments are available to promote healing when standard methods are not effective. Here is more information on non-healing wounds and how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be a beneficial treatment for wound care:
What Is Wound Care?
Wound care refers to the specific treatments used to help a wound heal properly, and it also prevents infection or other complications. The process involves cleaning the wound, applying appropriate dressings, and monitoring the healing progress. Different types of wounds require different care strategies, so a tailored approach is necessary for improved outcomes.
The goal of wound care is to create an environment that allows the body’s natural healing processes to function efficiently. This may involve debridement to remove dead tissue, and specialized dressings are used to manage moisture levels. For complex wounds, advanced therapies may be required to facilitate healing.
What Are Non-healing Wounds?
Non-healing wounds, also called chronic wounds, are sores or injuries that do not improve after several weeks of standard treatment. These wounds fail to progress through the normal stages of healing in a timely manner, and they can remain open for months or even years. This stalled healing process increases the risk of infection and other complications.
A wound is typically classified as chronic if it shows no significant signs of healing within 4 to 12 weeks. These wounds often become stuck in the inflammatory phase of healing, and the body is unable to rebuild new tissue effectively. A proper medical evaluation is necessary to determine the underlying cause and the appropriate course of treatment.
What Causes Them?
Several factors can contribute to the development of non-healing wounds, and many are related to underlying medical conditions. Poor circulation is a common cause, as it limits the supply of oxygen and nutrients needed for tissue repair. Conditions such as peripheral artery disease or venous insufficiency can impair blood flow, resulting in slow wound healing. Diabetes is another contributor to chronic wounds because high blood sugar levels can damage nerves and blood vessels.
What Is Hyperbaric Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a medical treatment that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment. A patient rests inside a special chamber where the air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal atmospheric pressure. This increased pressure allows the lungs to gather more oxygen than would be possible by breathing pure oxygen at normal air pressure. The treatment is non-invasive and is supervised by a trained medical team.
What Are the Benefits?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy offers several benefits for treating non-healing wounds. The high concentration of oxygen in the blood promotes the growth of new blood vessels. Improved blood flow delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the damaged tissue, thereby accelerating the healing process.
This therapy also helps fight infection by enhancing the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, and it can reduce swelling around the wound. The increased oxygen levels stimulate the release of growth factors and stem cells, which aid in tissue repair. HBOT can be an effective option for wounds that have not responded to other treatments.
Treat Your Non-healing Wound Now
Non-healing wounds require specialized medical attention to prevent serious complications, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a proven treatment. By delivering high concentrations of oxygen to the body, HBOT promotes healing in wounds that have not responded to standard care. If you have a chronic wound, consult with a healthcare provider to determine if this therapy is suitable for you.
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