If you’re providing in-home health care to the elderly with blood-related problems, it’s important to brush up on knowledge regarding this special condition. Blood is a very important substance in the body that transports nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Without which, our cellular systems will be materially starved.
Our body, however, can lose blood for several reasons.
Professionals providing care and nursing in Missouri know that wounds are common, and blood can leak out due to a break in the skin and affected blood vessels. These wounds usually stop bleeding after proper care is rendered. The body then creates new blood cells to replace those who are lost.
However, when the bleeding is severe, medical intervention is necessary. Blood transfusion is one of the medical interventions used to assist the body in replacing the huge volumes of blood that were lost. When the body loses about 20% of the total amount of blood (1.5 gallons), complications start to occur.
Loss of a fifth of the body’s blood causes it to enter a state called “hypovolemic shock.” This means that the heart experiences a diminished ability to distribute blood throughout the body in reaction to a reduced supply of blood.
Hypovolemic shock exhibits various symptoms, including:
- Blue colored nails
- Cold sweat and skin
- Fast heartbeat but weakened pulse
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Lightly bleeding wounds can be treated at home through first aid. But if the bleeding doesn’t stop after five minutes of pressure, it’s time to head to the emergency room for proper medical care.
Call us now at Jones Home Health Care, Inc. for reputable home health care in Ferguson, Missouri.