Gangrene

Gangrene can be a very serious condition and its psychological effects can also be life changing. It refers to the decay and death of tissue that is cause by an interruption of blood supply. It can occur as a result of injury or infection. It can also be because of chronic conditions that affect the supply of blood. These might include:

1. Diabetes, type 1 and type 2,
2. Arteriosclerosis, where arteries narrow, and
3. Raynaud’s phenomenon, where the blood vessels that supply the skin narrow,
4. Sometimes smoking can be a risk factor

If the blood supply is cut off in certain parts of the body, the tissue might die and the dead tissue is at risk of infection. In the case of diabetic foot ulcers, reduced sensation and reduced blood supply are the main causes for gangrene.

Traumatic injury can cause a sudden loss of blood to your body. This is made worse by the high risk of bacteria infection. Car accidents crush injuries, gun shot wounds, frost bite and industrial injuries are common gangrene causes. Infection can also occur during surgery but this is rare.

Gangrene Treatment

It is difficult to treat gangrene. Its treatment involves three goals:

• Removal of affected tissue,
• Preventing infection, and
• Addressing the cause of the gangrene

Removal of Affected Tissue

This is also known as debridement. This involves the surgical removal of the dead tissue. This prevents the gangrene from spreading and allows healthy tissue to heal. In very severe cases, the amputation of the body part may be necessary.

For those with a strong stomach, maggot therapy is another method of debridement. Specially bred maggots are mixed into a wound dressing and the area covered in gauze. After a few days, the maggots having eaten all the dead tissue are then flushed from the wound.

Preventing Gangrene Infection

Infections are treated with intravenous or intramuscular doses of antibiotics. In some cases blood transfusions, intravenous fluids and nutrients are needed to counter the infection and accelerate healing.

Addressing Cause of Gangrene

Surgical treatments can help restore or unblock the blood flow to the affected area. Some of this includes bypass surgery, angioplasty, or vascular stenting.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an alternative treatment for gangrene. A specially designed is filled with oxygen which is administered at a much higher pressure than the normal level of oxygen. The idea is to dissolve more oxygen in the blood stream which will both speed up the healing process and halt the spread of bacteria.

Prevention of Gangrene

If you have diabetes of another chronic condition, it is important to take care of your feet. Besides checking your feet daily for any problems, Miracles for Men recommends having your feet checked twice a year. Foot hygiene is very important.

Smoking can lead to your arteries becoming blocked and loss of blood supply to your arms or legs.

Diet and exercise are essential to help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels at normal levels. This helps to prevent damage to your blood vessels. Daily exercise and low fat, high fiber diet will go a long way to preventing gangrene.

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