Mega Doctor News
In the United States, chronic wounds affect about 6.5 million people each year, per the National Institutes of Health. That’s about one in 38 Americans.
Described as wounds that don’t heal within the normal period, which is usually four to 12 weeks, chronic wounds can be painful, hard on the body and immune system and costly.
In the U.S., the healthcare system spends more than $25 billion annually on treating complications from chronic wounds, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while the annual cost to manage chronic wounds is estimated to be between $28.1 to $96.8 billion.
Chronic wounds can be classified as vascular ulcers, diabetic ulcers and pressure ulcers, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, with some common features including prolonged or excessive inflammation, persistent infections, formation of drug-resistant microbial biofilms and the inability of skin cells to respond to reparative stimulation.
Chronic wounds can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life, causing chronic pain, loss of mobility, mental health issues like depression and more.
That’s why getting wounds treated immediately is imperative. But that’s not all. Health experts say it’s important to treat the underlying cause of a chronic wound, such as diabetic foot problems, circulation problems and venous insufficiency, a condition affecting veins in the legs.
To help educate the Rio Grande Valley community on chronic wounds and the impact they have on overall health, South Texas Health System is dedicating its latest Let’s Talk Your Health webinar to them. The online seminar, streaming live on via South Texas Health System’s Facebook page from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, will feature a representative from the South Texas Health System Wound Healing Center speaking about the causes of chronic wounds, who is most at risk for them and how they’re treated.
For more information on the webinar, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. To watch previous Let’s Talk Your Health Seminars, visit STHSLetsTalk.com.
To learn more about the STHS Wound Healing Center, located at 4302 S. Sugar Rd, Ste. 101, Edinburg, Texas, please visit southtexashealthsystemedinburg.com/services/wound-care.
| Who: | South Texas Health System |
| What: | FREE virtual seminar entitled “Let’s Talk Chronic Wounds” |
| When: | Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. |
| Where: | Online via STHS’ Facebook page |
