A New Cure for Difficult to Heal Foot Wounds

Chronic wounds like diabetic foot ulcer are quite common and a serious threat to well-being of patients. About 24 million people in the US alone, suffer from diabetes and around 18 percent of these people encounter chronic wounds like foot ulcer that do not heal. Many of these wounds eventually result in amputation. There is up to 45 times higher risk of amputation in diabetics. The two primary reasons for development of diabetic foot ulcers are neuropathy and narrowing of arteries.

Diabetic neuropathy affects the nerves that enable sensations by carrying the messages from the brain*to different parts of the body. Peripheral artery disease, which causes narrowing of arteries due to formation of deposits in the arteries, is common in diabetes patients. It reduces the flow of blood to the affected areas and this lack of blood supply hampers the wound healing process. Foot ulcer can be prevented by regularly examining for signs of trouble like broken skin or cuts that don't heal. Proper control of diabetes and maintaining good glucose control also significantly helps in preventing foot ulcer as well as other serious complications associated with diabetes. Simple preventive measures including not walking barefoot, wearing comfortable shoes and properly clipping nails and keeping feet clean, dry and moisturized help a great deal.

Treatments for Open Wounds

When we talk about open wounds we are talking about external injuries such as to the mucous membrane or skin, injuries that results in the breaking or opening of tissue.

Open wounds are usually a result of scrapes, cuts, abrasions and punctures. These wounds are mostly accompanied by bleeding. There are various treatments that help minimize extensive bleeding, infection and intensive scarring. The treatment includes applying pressure, cleaning, dressing, stitching and medication. We will discuss each of these treatments in detail below:

- Applying Pressure

Medihoney Can Cure Chronic Wounds

Treatment of wounds have significantly progressed over the last few decades with the development of sophisticated wound care products such as advanced wound dressings like duoderm and tegaderm. However, many people still prefer natural treatments or home remedies for their ailments including injuries and wounds. Honey is one such remedy that has been used for thousands of years for treatment of various health problems including wounds. Highly advanced antibiotics developed in the past few decades replaced honey but due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria, honey is making a comeback and again gaining popularity.

There is considerable amount of research being done on natural remedies especially on honey. Studies at the University of Bonn in Germany with collaboration from scientists in Berlin, Homburg and Düsseldorf have reported very promising results on the use of Medihoney. Their studies showed that even the most stubborn chronic wounds healed from the used of medihoney. When compared with the most sophisticated antibiotics, it has proved to be of equal, sometimes even superior effectiveness against infections like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA is one of the most difficult-to-treat infections, which is caused by a strain of staph bacteria. Long stay at hospitals and other nursing communities or long-term use of invasive medical devices such as catheters contributes heavily to these infections.

New Wound Dressing Enables Faster Healing

Ordinarily, common wounds are no cause for concern and only require basic first aid, which includes proper cleaning and use of wound dressing. Wound dressings are an integral part of wound management and with the new advanced dressings like Duoderm and Tegaderm, wound care has significantly improved. There are many types of dressings including, gauze, tulle, foam, hydrogel, hydrocolloids, hydrofiber etc. Wound dressings serve several purposes including sealing the wound to promote the clotting process, absorb the fluids discharging from the wound, clearing the wound bed of foreign particles including slough, prevent infection, promote granulation and relieving discomfort.

Recently, Israeli scientists have developed a new wound dressing which is made of human collagen and will promote quick healing.

Carotid Stenosis: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Carotid stenting sounds like a wonderful solution to the layperson. But the truth is always more complicated. I'll talk about it more here to give a better understanding of the disease, diagnosis, and treatment options.

The carotid arteries

The carotid arteries (along with the vertebral arteries) bring blood to the brain. Plaque embolization (or flecks of plaque breaking off diseased or blocked arteries) is one of the main causes of embolic (or non-bleeding) strokes. In people with blockages in this artery, treating or removing the plaque can prevent stroke.

Today we will talk about screening and diagnosis.. Next time: treatment options.

Different Types of First Aid Certification

First aid is an emergency medical care that is provided by people who are trained and untrained in the medical profession. Anyone can get first aid training, and those who pass it will be a certified first aid care provider. The Internationally accepted symbol of first aid is a white cross that is placed on a green background. First aid training is generally an undervalued skill. It can be very important in life or death situations and in emergency cases, where there are no health care professionals around. It can also help to prevent further injury or harm to a person, while waiting for emergency health care services.

People who benefit most from first aid certification are people who work in industries where they are responsible for the comfort, care and well-being of individuals. These include hotel staff, airplane crew, babysitters and day-care workers etc. There are many organizations in the United States from which you can get first aid certification. You can speak to your local clinic, hospital or fire department to find out what organizations in your area offer first aid training and certification. There are some companies online that sell first aid instruction manuals. However, it is best that you first get the necessary training in person from a certified instructor, and then purchase these manuals whenever you need to refresh your memory on the different techniques.

How to Find First Aid Classes and What You Will Learn There?

First aid is emergency medical care provided by non-professionals during emergency situations. There are many different kinds of emergency situations. Some are minor incidences that only require first aid treatment. Other cases are very serious and require the care of trained medical professionals in order to prevent death. First aid is usually required in situations, where there is no medical equipment. So the first aid processes usually do with minimal equipment. There are many reasons why people who are not trained health care professionals should take first aid classes. One of the most important reasons is that you never know when you will be in a life or death situation, where your skills can potentially save someone's life.

Anyone can get training in first aid classes. It is good for everyone to have these skills, but the people who are in most need of them are policemen, women, teachers, day-care workers and nannies. Other people who should have these skills are hotel staff and airplane crews. These are people who work in professions, where they have to help and serve people every day. To find out if there are any first aid classes nearby, you can do a simple search on the internet. Ideally you should find out through your local clinic, hospital or personal doctor, as they will be able to direct you to qualified and certified first aid teachers. You have to make sure that the classes you attend are taught by people with a lot of training and experience, and are also certified to teach others. This is important because if you do not receive the right training, you could potentially harm people more than you could help them. Once you have completed the first aid classes, you will be provided with a certificate to show that you have completed your training, and are now a trained first aid service provider. So what can you expect to learn in first aid classes? Most first aid courses include two sections; the theoretical education and the practical training.

The Necessity of First Aid Training

What is first aid?
Usually first aid is used to treat small injuries; very rarely it is a matter of life and death. First aid can be used anywhere, when there is an injury, be it at home, school, workplace and in public places. Basically, first aid is the prompt provision of essential emergency care to injured or sick persons. Sometimes first aid care is all that is required for people who have sustained minor injuries and illness and no further medical assistance is needed. In serious situations, the prompt first aid attendance to anyone who is injured before an ambulance can get to the scene makes the difference between life and death, or a full or partial recovery.

Sports First Aid: Who Needs It?

Sports first aid is a special type of first aid which focuses specifically on sports related injuries. But who really needs to get trained in this? Here are some of the people who could really benefit.

Sports first aid focuses exclusively on sports related injuries, and is a vital skill for people who are regularly involved in any kind of activities. But who should get trained up in sports injury management? You don't have to be a sports physiotherapist to learn the basic skills, and any of the following people may find it to be an essential skill.

Personal Trainers

Going to Urgent Care

When those not so life-threatening medical emergencies come up, you might be tempted to wait until your doctor's office is open or just go to the emergency room. This is not always the best option. Going to the ER could end up being very costly if you do not have insurance, and you could end up waiting for hours for something simple. Your alternative may be an area urgent care clinic.

Urgent care clinics are the perfect option for those with illnesses that are not threatening your life. Whether you or one of your children have a cold, an infection, allergic reaction, or a broken bone, a quick clinic should be your first stop. They will take lab tests or x-rays if necessary and you will likely get in fairly quickly and possibly leave with more in your wallet than if you went to an ER.