How To Keep Your Wound Healing During The Winter

Dealing with a wound that is taking a long time to heal can be frustrating. Whether you have a medical condition that is causing the delay or the wound was just especially deep and troublesome, you will, of course, want to do everything you can to speed the process along. To that end, there are certain precautions and tips that you should keep in mind when dealing with long-term wound care during the winter months. Here's how you can make it through to next spring hopefully all healed up and back at full strength. 

Don't Get Dried Out

Winter air is often noted for being quite dry, and that's not just the air outside. The air inside your home can be drier during this time of year as well. While every wound is different, it's generally a good idea to keep at least some moisture around the affected (and bandaged) area. If you believe the air around you is too dry, consider getting a humidifier for your home during the winter months. You might also be able to talk to your doctor about switching to other wound care products that can help with this problem.

Keep the Coughs and Colds Away

Winter is also notorious for bringing along flu season and a variety of other ailments that could affect your family or the people you work with. Ask your doctor if getting a flu shot is a good idea or not given your current condition. Regardless, do what you can to limit your exposure to bacteria and viruses that might make you sick. If your body has to start fighting off a cold, that's energy that might no longer be going towards making your wound heal as fast as possible. Avoid getting sick as much as you can to keep the focus where it needs to be.

Don't Forget to Move Around

Your doctor will know best, but in some cases, it's a good idea to walk or move your arms on a regular basis when dealing with a wound in certain spots. This is because you want to encourage blood circulation throughout your body and specifically to the site of the wound. When the weather gets cold outside, people tend to become more dormant and might not get as much exercise as they normally would. Even if you just have to do laps around your kitchen island, get moving at least a little bit each and every day, provided you have doctor approval.