In more severe cases, it may be necessary to remove an entire body part such as a toe, foot, or lower leg. This is known as amputation. If you have a condition that increases your risk of getting gangrene, such as diabetes, it's important you have regular check-ups to assess the state of your feet. Stopping smoking if you smoke and adopting a healthy lifestyle, with a low-fat diet and regular exercise , can also improve your circulation and reduce your risk of developing gangrene.
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For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit. For queries about your identity check, email nida nidirect. You are more likely to develop gangrene if you have a history of certain medical conditions, including:. Some other physical events could increase your risk of gangrene. You may be more likely to develop this condition if you:. Smoking, drinking alcohol, and using intravenous drugs may also add to your risk of developing gangrene.
Sometimes the first sign of dry gangrene is a reddish line that develops around the affected tissue. This line may later turn black.
In this case, you may not have any symptoms on your skin or limbs. However, you may have pain, an unexplained fever that lasts a long time, or low blood pressure. You may also experience confusion. Your doctor may suspect that you have gangrene based on your medical history and symptoms. They may also use a combination of additional diagnostic methods to determine your condition. A scraping of tissue from your affected body part may be examined with a microscope to look for dead cells.
Some kinds of imaging are helpful in diagnosing the spread of gangrene in your internal tissues. An anarteriogram test may be performed if doctors suspect that your gangrene is related to a circulatory problem.
This test uses X-rays to monitor the flow of a special dye through your arteries, showing whether any arteries are blocked.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if bacteria are present. These are typically given intravenously, or through a needle directly into the bloodstream. For people with poor circulation that results in gangrene, vascular surgery surgery on the arteries or veins may be recommended in order to improve the flow of blood through the veins to body tissues.
Placing a person with gas gangrene in a special oxygen-rich environment can slow the growth of bacteria. This allows the skin to begin healing. It also brings oxygen to the damaged tissue to promote healing. In serious gangrene cases, the dead tissue or body part may need to be removed. This process is called debridement. Dry gangrene usually starts with a red line around the affected area. This area then turns dry and black.
The earlier gangrene is treated, the more successful the treatment is likely to be. So if you have any of the above symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. If you have symptoms of gangrene, your healthcare team will give you a physical exam to check for signs of tissue death.
They may also ask you about any chronic health conditions you have that could be linked to the gangrene. Your healthcare provider may also want to do lab tests to check for gangrene. A higher than normal amount of white blood cells, for example, can mean you have an infection. Your healthcare provider may take samples of tissue or fluid from the affected area and look at in the lab. If your healthcare provider thinks you may have internal gangrene, he or she may order imaging tests or surgery to find out for sure.
Because gangrene can spread rapidly over a large area of the body, the amount of dead tissue can be quite large. Treating these large areas may result in:. You can help prevent gangrene by carefully watching any wounds you have and getting immediate attention if signs of infection develop. Gangrene is a medical emergency. The outlook with gangrene depends on the location and size of the affected area, as well as any other medical conditions you might have.
Gangrene is often life-threatening, so immediate medical care is crucial. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Gangrene comes in 2 forms, dry and wet: Dry gangrene occurs when the blood supply to tissue is cut off. The area becomes dry, shrinks, and turns black. Your podiatrist may be able to provide you with specially made-to-measure footwear, or they may be able to recommend a stockist. Find out more about taking care of your feet and living with diabetes. Smoking can cause your arteries to become blocked, resulting in a loss of blood supply to your arms or legs.
This is known as peripheral arterial disease PAD. If you decide to stop smoking, your GP will be able to refer you to an NHS Stop Smoking Service , which will provide dedicated help and advice about the best ways to give up. If you're committed to giving up smoking but don't want to be referred to a stop smoking service, your GP should be able to prescribe medical treatment to help with any withdrawal symptoms you may experience. For more information about giving up smoking, see 10 self-help tips to stop smoking and stop smoking treatments.
Eating an unhealthy diet high in fat will make any existing atherosclerosis worse and increase your risk of developing gangrene. Continuing to eat high-fat foods will cause more fatty plaques to build-up in your arteries. This is because fatty foods contain cholesterol. There are 2 types of fat — saturated and unsaturated. Avoid foods that contain saturated fats because they increase levels of " bad cholesterol " in your blood.
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