DIET
AND HEALING
Enhancing:
Natural
- Coast to Coast Wound Care's
first and foremost principle of healing is, "Do The Patient No Harm." We,
therefore, approach wound-care, with the aim of allowing the body's natural
healing process to proceed more effectively. Wounds, especially bed-sores,
can be traumatic, and by gently intervening, we can help stabilize a "crisis
condition" long enough to allow the body to heal itself.
Malnutrition
- To repair and rebuild tissue, however, certain foods, supplements and
nutrients are needed; essential vitamins, minerals, protein and calcium,
for example, in recovering and increasing wound strength, and alleviating
body stress. This requires nutritional management by trained personnel,
as approximately 63% of nursing-home patients are cognitively impaired.
Moreover, a study at St. Louis University estimated that "the rate of patients'
malnutrition varies from about 4% in the good nursing-homes, to perhaps
50% at the bad ones!" (St. Louis Post-Dispach-Oct.1999) "The latest
national compilation of more than 500,000 nursing home deaths - for 1999
- lists starvation, dehydration or bedsores as the cause of 4,138 death
certificates."
Supplements
- The need for protein in building body tissue, and speed up healing, increases
acutely in wound episodes. Vitamin C accelerates healing. Vitamin A helps
increase wound strength, and works together (synergistically) with Vitamin
C and Zinc in collagen and protein production. Vitamin E, likewise, is
a wound healer, particularly in bed-sores, diabetic ulcers, and ulcerated
surgical incisions. B-complex is essential, as not absorbed as well with
age. A high nutrient daily supplement to meet the above nutritional requirements,
under supervision, would be very helpful.
Healing
- The program of supplements and nutrients, therefore, briefly outlined,
is designed to strengthen the immune system and assist wound-healing. Herbal
and vitamin supplementation, can, however, adversely interact with certain
medications and supplements, and must be under the direct supervision of
a health care professional particularly preoperatively.
Faster
- Finally, we observe the dietary guidelines of the new color-coded Food
Pyramid Plan, but are adaptable to any changes. The Coast to Coast Wound Care Surgical Team augments
the nursing home health-care professionals by our adjunct service. A program
of sound nutritional support and education can play a significant role
in providing relief, and faster healing. It can also help prevent wound
formation (bedsores), maintain optimum health, vitality, and good will
for the resident patient.
Aging | Chronic wounds | Bedsores
| Wound types | Pain | Diet and healing | Risk factors
