Certain diseases are more popular than others, which may sound like a strange statement, but to those in health care, this is a well-recognized phenomenon. I speak of popularity in terms of media attention, research efforts into cures, charitable organizations aiming to support this research, and support groups providing emotional succor to those afflicted. Heart disease must be considered one of the top attention-getters, as is diabetes. Skin cancer probably does not get enough. Those in wound care know that it’s a huge problem getting far less than it should. But this is not going to be an article about wound care, surprisingly.
Read MoreThere is an epidemic occurring (I know what you are thinking: another??), considered “silent” by many, taking place world-wide. Although research is on-going, and advances in technique and technology are announced almost daily, no one wants to talk about the non-healing wound they have. But chronic wounds affect around 6.5 million patients in our country, and the costs of caring for those afflicted is staggering.
Read MoreEach era of medicine brings new advances. One of the most recent hot topics is wound care, which is the study and treatment of wounds that don’t heal in a normal and timely fashion. This frustrating and often painful condition is far more common than many realize, since it is almost always covered and out of sight. Intensive research has revealed much about wound care, including new and exciting ways to treat them.
Read MoreThe Charcot foot is one example of some of the strange diseases that can befall the human body. It is characterized by the sudden development of a severely deformed foot, without any history of trauma. And it is accompanied by no pain whatsoever!
Read MoreHave you ever been burned by a hot pan? Can you imagine having that feeling from your whole foot? It’s called diabetic neuropathy, and it’s what some diabetics have to endure. Their nerves stop working correctly when their sugar levels rise high enough, and for long enough. Numbness is the most common sensation experienced, but there can also be tingling, “pins and needles”, or the aforementioned burning.
Read MoreOne of the most dangerous effects of diabetes is on the ability of the foot to detect various types of trauma. Some of the nerves in the feet are responsible for producing pain in response to injury. This is an extremely important sensation. When the nerves stop working well, the afflicted individual may feel some things well, but might not be alerted to other things, like a scrape, blister, or some other minor trauma to the skin. When combined with a diabetic’s reduced ability to fight bacteria, it is understandable that diabetics suffer from a higher incidence of serious, limb-threatening infections.
Read MoreDiabetes appears to be nearing epidemic proportions. Because this particular disease produces a constellation of problems, there will be a tremendous strain on our health care system in the years to come. Of course, these financial expenditures are secondary to the suffering and disability that will result.
Read MoreDid you hear about poor uncle Steve? He cut himself while trimming his toe nails. So you might ask: “What’s the big deal“? Steve wasn’t concerned. In fact, it didn’t hurt at all, so why would he worry? Even though the cut didn’t heal in the usual time, he didn’t give it a second thought. That changed when he developed an infection, and he ended up losing his leg.
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