If you are worried about a family member or yourself having the possibility of getting a pressure ulcer then please read one of our previous blogs on how to prevent a pressure ulcer from happening, either “Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers” or “The Wound Problem”. Both articles will provide helpful hints and information about avoiding pressure ulcers ever happening to you, the ones you love or those under your care.
It can be very difficult to spot a pressure ulcer in the early stages of development, however if you know what to look for it can make it much easier.
Some symptoms can include:
- Pain and/or discomfort over the pressure points of the patients body (see image)
- Redness and/or bruising
- Breaks in the patients skin
The above symptoms can of course be attributed to other conditions. Therefore how would you know if you or your patient is at risk of developing a pressure ulcer? In truth is it very hard to tell but below we have got a list of the most common causes of getting a pressure ulcer and the most common types of people who are at risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
Common Causes:
- Lack of movement
- Not eating well/enough
- Not drinking enough
- Damp and/or moist skin
- Loss of sensation in pressure points
People at Risk:
- People with difficulty moving or shifting their own weight
- Those unable to feel pain on areas of their body
- Those with limited bladder or bowel control
- After surgery
- People who are seriously ill
- Those with a poor diet or low fluid intake
- Smokers
- People with poor blood circulation
- The Very Old
- The Very Young
- Overweight
- Underweight
- Those with previous pressure ulcer damage
If you believe you, a family member, or patient under your care is at risk then please seek medical advice immediately. Please always remember that it is very easy to avoid a pressure ulcer if you use the correct products and equipment, however once you get a pressure ulcer it is very costly and time consuming to treat.
