HEALTHWISE MAUI

Q: What are venous ulcers and how are they linked to heart disease?

Dr. Jason Laird, Internal Medicine, Maui Memorial Medical Center Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy: Venous ulcers are a type of sore that can develop on your legs when you have poor circulation due to heart disease. When your heart isn’t pumping properly, it can cause poor blood flow throughout your body. This can lead fluid to pool in your lower body, raising the blood pressure in your legs and feet. This pressure and buildup of fluids can cause surrounding tissues to break down, eventually becoming an open sore.

Unfortunately, once they form, venous ulcers can become nonhealing wounds. That’s because good circulation is important for healing. Your body needs an abundant supply of fresh, oxygen-rich blood to bring nutrients and immune cells to the wound area. So when you have poor blood flow, wounds in your feet and legs have a harder time healing, making them at higher risk of infection.

Swelling, pain, tingling, and discoloration in the legs and feet are warning signs that pressure is rising and you may be at risk of venous ulcers. Elevating the legs and using compression therapy can help, so talk with your doctor if you have symptoms.

If you develop venous ulcers, it’s important to seek proper wound care to avoid infection. At a wound clinic, providers can treat the problem by reducing pressure in the legs to improve circulation, caring for the sore with appropriate dressings and prescribing antibiotics if necessary.

You can also reduce your risk of venous ulcers by taking care of your heart with a healthy lifestyle. By eating a heart healthy diet, staying physically active, getting enough sleep and taking medications as prescribed, you’ll keep your circulation strong for better wound healing.

Maui Memorial Medical Center’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Therapy Clinic provides a comprehensive approach to wound healing, including advanced care for nonhealing wounds. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (808) 9864500 or visit mauihealth.org/woundcare.

Q: I want to cut back on my drinking. Are there any tips or resources that can help?

Cameron Rogers, Trauma Injury Prevention & Outreach Coordinator, Maui Health: There are many reasons people are choosing to drink less alcohol or try out the “sober curious” trend. Cutting back on how much you drink can help you sleep and feel better, and it can also reduce your risk of cancer, liver disease and other health problems.

Whether you’re cutting out alcohol entirely, or just wanting to drink less, there are resources that can help.

A good place to start is by talking with your primary care provider. They can assess your drinking and connect you with tools to help you reach your goals, whether that means sharing tips for cutting back, or prescribing medications that help people abstain.

Other tools include taking a self-assessment to figure out how much you’re drinking and learn about your risk factors. Use this information to set a goal for how much you want to cut back. Then take time to think about your motivation. You’re more likely to stick with your goals if you remember that you’re drinking less because you want to be healthier, or so you can be more present with your kids.

Make a plan for cutting back, whether you’re using an online toolkit, or just writing it down in a notebook. For example, you might decide to limit your drinking to weekends, and only have one drink. Whatever you decide, set a limit for the number of days you’ll drink and how many drinks you’ll have, and plan a few alcohol-free days each week.

Changing habits can be hard, so plan ahead to manage your triggers. If certain people or places make you likely to drink more, make a plan to avoid those situations, or distract yourself when you get a craving. And ask a caring family member or friend to support you as you cut back.

Finally, it’s especially important to talk with your doctor if you’re a heavy drinker. If you are dependent on alcohol, or if you drink heavily every day, quitting cold turkey can actually be dangerous. So work with your doctor to reduce your drinking in a safe way.

You can find more tools and resources at mauihealth.org/drinkless.

■ Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in Healthwise Maui, which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana‘i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth. org/healthwise.