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About Wound Care 

Wound Symptoms & Causes

A chronic, non-healing wound is one that does not heal in six to eight weeks with traditional wound care. More than 5 million Americans suffer from non-healing wounds, which can cause serious infections, illness and loss of a limb. To ensure your health and safety, you should learn to recognize the causes and symptoms of non-healing wounds.

Certain health conditions can cause chronic non-healing wounds, such as:
  • Anemia
  • Bowel disorders
  • Chronic Osteomyelitis
  • Circulation or clotting disorders, often caused by arteriosclerosis
  • Diabetes
  • Heart Disease
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hypertension
  • Kidney Failure
  • Lymphedema
  • Malnourishment
  • Obesity
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Venous Insufficiency
Inflammatory diseases such as: 
  • Lupus
  • Scleroderma
  • Vasculitis

Other causes of non-healing wounds include a past or current history of smoking, steroid use, radiation therapy, cancer or infection, lying in one position for too long or a family history of non-healing wounds.

Symptoms

Everyone experiences wounds at some point in your life, but most heal on their own with proper care. When does a wound become a chronic, non-healing wound? Look for these signs:

  • Persistent, increased pain in the area of the wound
  • Discoloration of the wound near the edges of the wound – often a dark or bluish color
  • Increased drainage from the wound
  • Redness or swelling around or spreading away from the wound
  • A foul odor coming from the wound