BED SORES: WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW!

  • By Sheryl Colaco
  • •
  • 24 Oct, 2019
  • •
Bed sores can affect people who spend a long time in one position, for example, because of paralysis, illness, old age, or frailty. Also known as pressure ulcers and pressure sores, bed sores can happen when there is friction or unrelieved pressure on one part of the body. People who cannot make even small movements are at risk of pressure sores. The sores can affect any part of the body, but the bony areas around the elbows, knees, heels, coccyx, and ankles are more susceptible. Bedsores are treatable, but, if treatment comes too late, they can lead to fatal complications. The prevalence of pressure sores in INDIA alone is estimated to range from 20.8% - 24% as per WHO.

Pressure sores develop in 4 stages:

  1. The skin will look red and feel warm to the touch. It may be itchy.
  2. There may be a painful open sore or a blister, with discolored skin around it.
  3. A crater-like appearance develops, due to tissue damage below the skin's surface.
  4. Severe damage to skin and tissue, possibly with infection. Muscles, bones, and tendons may be visible.
An infected sore takes longer to heal, and the infection can spread elsewhere in the body.

PREVENTION

  • Moving the patient at least every 15-20 minutes for wheelchair users and at every 45 minutes for people in bed. This is NON-NEGOTIABLE.
  • Daily skin inspections
  • Keeping the skin healthy and dry
  • Maintaining good nutrition to enhance overall health and wound healing
  • Quitting smoking
  • Exercises! even if they must be carried out in bed, with assistance, as they improve circulation.

HEAL THEM WITH GOHEAL

The following steps could be taken to avoid & treat the prevalence of Bed Sores:
  • Remove the pressure from the sore by moving the patient or using foam pads or pillows to prop up parts of the body.
  • Clean the wound: Wounds may be gently washed with water and a mild soap. Apply GoHeal Ointment  www.goheal.co and bandage the wound.
  • Control incontinence as far as possible.
  • Remove dead tissue: A wound does not heal well if dead or infected tissue is present, so debridement is necessary. Apply GoHeal  www.goheal.co after debridement and wound cleaning and then dress the bed sore.
  • Apply dressing: GoHeal www.goheal.co protects the wound, promotes regeneration of healthy tissues and accelerates healing. Dressing should be changed once every 24 hours.
For more details, please visit www.goheal.co
For purchase of GoHeal online visit  www.goheal.co/purchase-online

Peripheral Neuropathy - Home Exercise to Relieve the Burning Sensation in Feet 

By Sheryl Colaco • April 9, 2020
Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body

Maintain & Strengthen Your Immunity – A recipe from my mother for Diabetics 

By Sheryl Colaco • March 19, 2020
If you have a weak immune system due to diabetes, that doesn’t mean you are doomed to a life of chronic illness. There are ways you can strengthen your immune system.

5 important tips to avoid blisters on your feet if you have diabetes.

By Sheryl Colaco • March 13, 2020
In addition to following to a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water while enjoying the summers, these tips will help you maintain the health of your feet

How do I clean a wound?

By Sheryl Colaco • January 27, 2020
No matter how much I talk about wound hygiene, it is always never enough. One of the most important thing to know is the way to clean your leg if you are suffering from wounds due to a Varicose Vein condition. The next is the application of GoHeal Ointment and bandaging appropriately to ensure blood circulation. View this video and follow the steps, and you will be glad you did it.

The video has been taken in real time, so please pardon the background sound of vehicles.

To Purchase GoHeal click here

With you in your pain,
Sheryl Colaco

Taking Care of Our Feet During Monsoon Seasons

By Sheryl Colaco (Managing Director, Colaco Healthcare Pvt Ltd) • August 22, 2019
I walked into our GoHeal Wound & Burn Care Center this morning, as I do everyday & immediately met with all our wound patients who had arrived to show themselves to our wound specialists at the center.

While I met with all and looked at every wound along with our doctors, a pattern hit my mind.

Wounds appeared similar. The odour from the wound was also quite similar, along with the edema oozing. We observed this pattern since the beginning of July 2019 and realised that history was repeating itself from what we saw last July 2018.

We then figured out that all wounds that the diabetics were coming in with, were due to the rising humidity levels in the air as well as rain water. So, folks please remember that PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN FINDING A CURE. Ensure your feet are always well protected from wetness & from rain water. It is impossible to be a 100% safe for this, so I recommend each of us to dry our feet as soon as we can. Dry them well (after a thorough wash with clean water and a soap - any bathing soap should help if you don’t have an ongoing bacterial infection)

Husbands, please inspect your wives feet at the end of the day. Wives, do so with your husbands feet. Sons and daughters, Please ensure you don’t go to bed without inspecting your dad/ mom/ grandpa/ grandma’s feet at the end of each day. At the least observed cut, or skin color changes, take action to prevent aggravation.

This way, I am positive that we will see lesser wounded patients coming in to get treated with us, because you have taken better care of yourselves and your loved ones.

For more information please visit www.goheal.co or call ‭+91 98454 95569‬.

Sheryl Colaço
Colaço Healthcare Pvt Ltd

4 stages in wound healing 

By Sheryl Colaco • May 7, 2018
Wound healing process
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