MMPH6154 Health Education And Health Promotion

Question

Summarize the Health Education and Health Promotion Activities that you would recommend to an Elderly Patient with Venous Stasis and Ulcers

Answer

Health Education and Health Promotion

The venous ulcer is also termed as a stasis ulcer and is usually the most common etiology of the lower extremity ulceration. This disorder is generally caused by inflammatory processes which result in leukocyte activation and is typically prone in older age since the blood flow usually decrease as you age and hence muscles become less effective (Ilonzo, Goss, Yang & Dudkiewicz, 2017). In that case, the health education that I would recommend to the elderly patient with Venous Stasis and Ulcers is to keep legs up as much as possible when resting which is termed as leg elevation. Wearing girdles, leg garters along with tight fitting garments has to be avoided since they are vital factors (Ballard & Bergan, 2015).

The patient should make sure that he/she has a special dressing before putting on the compression stocking to help the ulcers to heal. They usually absorb the fluid oozing out of the wound, reduce the pay, remove the dead and infected cells and also controls the odor (Ballard & Bergan, 2015). Foot and ankle exercise is also recommended to reduce symptoms. This mostly helps those older adults that are prone to sitting for a long time. The Health Promotion activities are fear of injury, self-management, a wish to stay regular and lastly instructions and support. Accordingly, walking effectively stimulate the calf muscles thus reducing chances of venous stasis and ulcers.

References

Ballard, J. & Bergan, J. (2015). Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Diagnosis and Treatment. London: Springer London.

Ilonzo, N., Goss, S., Yang, C., & Dudkiewicz, M. (2017). A Case of Superficial Femoral Arteriovenous Fistula and Severe Venous Stasis Ulceration, Managed with an Iliac Extender Prosthesis. Case reports in vascular medicine, 2017.