CHRONIC LEG ULCERS

Older Women Experience of Living with Chronic Leg Ulceration

Older Women Experience of Living with Chronic Leg Ulceration

Introduction

Any person who is ill or having continues injury, either by birth or it may be acquired later in life is experienced with a change or the loss in one or the other way. For example physical illness / injury and its treatment can significantly change the function and appearance of the body, which in return can change the psychological and social being. Chronic wound healing is usually a long and uncomfortable process, though many people adapt to emerging needs placed upon them and relatively are unaffected. The experience of others, psychological and social adjustment problems have very bad impact on quality of life (QOL), such as pain, the adverse effects of negative emotions, daily life activities, sleep disturbance, mobility reduction, and social withdrawal. (Scott, 2005, 628)

Ulcers

The definition of leg ulcers is the “Discontinuity of the dermis epidermis in the lower limbs more than six (6) weeks. They are common in the elderly population and there is negative impact on the performance of quality of life for patients with an adverse affect, great burden on health budgets is also caused. Heterogeneous is the leg ulcer of pathogenesis. Prevention strategies, early identification and proper management are the factors to improve the health quality of life of patients and reduction in costs is critical. (Donnelly, 2000, 701)

Leg ulcer is a chronic disease, according to recent census, the cost of the National Health Service (NHS) of 230-400 million pounds, recurrence 26% and 69% (NHS evaluation and dissemination system (NHS CRD The center of the report). Most patients that suffer from this disease are women and the age is more than 74 years. The NHS CRD has identified outcomes of unnecessary suffering, increased costs and wide variations in standards of care - these are not hallmarks of clinically effective practice. They conflict with quality, efficiency and performance measures which underpin the clinical governance agenda outlined in The New NHS: Modern, Dependable (Department of Health (DoH). (Baker, 2001, 867)

Cause of Ulcer

The most common cause of chronic leg ulcer is poor blood circulation and other souses include:

Certain skin diseases, vascular diseases, tumors and infections.

Lesions (traumatic ulcers, burns, abrasions, etc.)

Diabetes, in which ulcers are caused by poor blood circulation or loss of sensitivity, resulting in pressure ulcers.

Chronic leg ulcers caused by poor blood circulation

Approximately 10% of all leg ulcers are arterial ulcers. Arteries are the tubes that carry blood from the heart to body tissue. Tissues receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood. The blood containing carbon dioxide and other waste products from tissues is carried back to the heart through veins. Arterial ulcers of the legs caused by poor circulation of blood through arteries that are narrowed due to atherosclerosis for example

Arterial ulcers often affect the feet (toes and heels). Legs and feet are often cold and may look k shiny and white and blue. (Callam, 2007, 82)

Causes or worsen the leg ulcer

Pervious ...