{"id":5388,"date":"2019-04-08T04:46:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T04:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5388"},"modified":"2021-03-30T14:51:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T14:51:46","slug":"14-things-that-increase-the-risk-of-osteomyelitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-things-that-increase-the-risk-of-osteomyelitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things That Increase the Risk of Osteomyelitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Osteomyelitis is a common health condition that affects both children and adults equally, and approximately 2.4 people out of every 100, 000. While this might make it sound like a rare condition, it\u2019s true that there are more diagnosed cases of osteomyelitis in the average emergency room than you might think \u2013 and treatment should be actioned as soon as possible in cases where the condition is suspected.
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The condition can be described as a type of bacterial bone infection, and it happens when the infection itself migrates \u2013 usually through the bloodstream \u2013 to other parts of the body, where it causes a vast array of complications for the health.
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There are several risk factors that can increase your overall risk of developing the condition, including diabetes, skin infections, infections elsewhere in the body and other factors such as high blood pressure or being a smoker.
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Here are 8 you should know.
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1. Smoking<\/strong>
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Almost everyone who smokes has been told they shouldn\u2019t, and it\u2019s a commonly known fact that smoking cigarettes <\/a>aren\u2019t good for your health \u2013 but because of exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke and due to the fact that the compounds in tobacco (such as nicotine) are so addictive, a lot of people end up smoking cigarettes anyway despite knowing how bad it can be for their health.
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If you\u2019re a smoker, especially a long-term one, you\u2019re at an automatically increased risk of developing a range of different health conditions that can include high blood pressure, heart disease, disorders of the lungs and osteomyelitis over time.
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If you\u2019re a smoker, then the first thing that you should do is think about how you\u2019re going to quit; if you haven\u2019t started smoking yet, then the best advice for you is to never start with the habit of smoking in the first place.
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2. Immunity-related Conditions<\/strong>
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The body\u2019s immune system<\/a> is set to function much like a well-oiled machine \u2013 it\u2019s a combination of components that work together to ensure that you\u2019re kept healthy and that you aren\u2019t as likely to contract viruses such as the flu of the season (or sometimes much more serious ones). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your immune system is in good, healthy condition then you won\u2019t usually get whatever bug is floating around, and you won\u2019t get sick as easily or as fast \u2013 but if you have any type of health condition that\u2019s currently affecting your immune system (such as cancer) then it\u2019s likely that you are at a much higher risk of developing osteomyelitis.
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The best thing you can do in this case is to boost your immune system as much as possible by following a healthy diet, and by taking immune-boosting supplements and compounds such as a decent multivitamin, calcium supplements and echinacea, which is known for being excellent to improve immunity.

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3. Skin Infections<\/strong>
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Osteomyelitis <\/a>is a health condition which is traditionally known for affecting the bone health, and if you have contracted the condition through any other type of infection somewhere in your body it\u2019s likely that the infection could go and sit within the body\u2019s bone structure \u2013 and this is where we get the condition that\u2019s known as osteomyelitis. There are several infections and types of bacteria that can lead to developing osteomyelitis \u2013 sometimes even a combination of several, of which staphylococcus and salmonella can be only two.
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Skin infections that are left untreated are one of the most commonly considered risk factors for developing osteomyelitis. If an infection on the skin is left untreated for a long period of time, it allows the infection to travel through to other parts of the body where it can cause a range of other complications for your health \u2013 including developing osteomyelitis or other infections.
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4. Infections Elsewhere in the Body<\/strong>
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Skin infections <\/a>aren\u2019t the only type of infections that can cause osteomyelitis, and other infections elsewhere in the body can also be one of the factors that can help to drastically increase your risk of developing the condition in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that you should remember is the fact that infections can start and go nearly anywhere in the body, and it\u2019s this fact that means certain types of infections \u2013 again, particularly ones like salmonella or staphylococcus \u2013 can travel and make their way to the bone, especially if you have any underlying bone conditions or an existing fracture that gives the infection further place to enter the body.
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It\u2019s vital that any potential infections in the body are treated as soon as possible before they become a problem for the rest of your health. Consult your doctor if you have a cut or wound that is struggling to heal or might appear to have become infected over time.
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5. High Blood Pressure<\/strong>
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High blood pressure<\/a> is one of the most common risk factors (other than a compromised immune system, high cholesterol or an underlying infection somewhere in the body) when it comes to developing a condition such as osteomyelitis.
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High blood pressure is more than just a risk factor: It\u2019s considered to be an entirely different health condition all by itself, and if you have high blood pressure it\u2019s vital that you make regular appointments with your doctor to assess the state of your health and the management of the condition \u2013 it\u2019s usually easy to control with a few diet changes and the right type of medication, but it can be disastrous for your health if it\u2019s left untreated or put under further strain.
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High blood pressure can happen because of your diet, sometimes because of being overweight, sometimes underlying heart conditions and other times developing the condition itself is entirely genetic.
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6. Prosthetic Joints<\/strong>
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People who make use of prosthetic joints <\/a>for mobility can also be considered at a higher risk of developing certain types of bone conditions, including arthritis, growths on the bone due to strain and weight that\u2019s placed directly on it and health conditions such as osteomyelitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can happen both to people who have newly acquired their prosthetic joints and to people who have been wearing them for years or decades; it\u2019s normal for the skin to become tender over time due to the pressure of the joint \u2013 especially in the case of prosthetic legs \u2013 and this can sometimes lead to abrasions, cuts or breaks in the skin.
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This is where the potential for developing osteomyelitis exists. If you are someone who is currently making use of a prosthetic limb, you should be aware of the fact that it can be considered a risk factor and move to improve your health as much as possible.
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7. Drug Use<\/strong>
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Heavy recreational drug use can be extremely bad for your health, especially if we\u2019re talking about very long-term substance abuse over months, years or even sometimes decades \u2013 and it can put you at an increased risk of developing a wide range of different health conditions from cancer <\/a>through to high blood pressure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intravenous drug use only increases your risk of developing certain conditions further, and infections can easily be further pushed into the body with the use of needles \u2013 especially when proper sterilization techniques aren\u2019t being used on either the skin or the needle.
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This can put you at a highly increased risk of developing osteomyelitis, and any symptoms such as a constant fever should be taken very seriously and immediately reported to a medical professional. The same is true for any type of drug or substance addiction, which is considered a treatable medical condition that can be overcome with the right professional help.
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8. Cholesterol<\/strong>
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If you\u2019re healthy and following exactly the right diet for your body \u2013 and with no type of genetic health conditions to speak of \u2013 you\u2019d be a little closer to being the ideal human. But it doesn\u2019t take a lot to figure out that there is no such thing as the ideal human, and it\u2019s true that everyone gets sick eventually \u2013 and everyone might have some type of health conditions buried somewhere in their genes.
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This should tell you why it\u2019s more important to live a healthy life.
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Cholesterol <\/a>is one of the largest risk factors for developing osteomyelitis, and you should take special care of your health in general if you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol or know someone in your family who has. Ensure that you\u2019re at the right weight for your body type, follow a diet that\u2019s as close to natural and healthy as you can and do what you can to boost your immunity and keep your cholesterol in check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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