Posted by Kevin Leonard on 31st Oct 2017
Obesity is a term used to describe an excessive amount of body fat. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a person is considered obese when their weight is over 20 percent or 100 pounds greater than what their ideal body weight should be. Once a person becomes over the 20 percent mark, their weight poses a serious health risk. Obesity becomes "morbid" when it increases the risk of one or more obesity-related health conditions or serious diseases such as heart disease or decubitus. This issues tends to run in families, whether it be a genetic factor or an environmental effect of the diet and lifestyle of the family in which you were raised. It has been estimated in the NIH Consensus Report that nearly 10 million people are considered morbidly obese. Obesity places an extra strain on the heart and lungs making it hard to distribute oxygen and nutrients around the body. The lack of oxygen and blood can then result in chronic wound problems such as decubitus, also known as pressure ulcers. Decubitus can become infected, causing severe pain and discomfort for patients, and turn into a life threatening condition. The first step in preventing and/or treating decubitus is by reducing the pressure. Using a support surface, such as an American Health Systems Ultra-Form Bariatric Mattress, will aide in protecting the effected area(s). The Ultra-Form Tri-Com Sleep Surface combines 3 layers of high preformance foams blending softness and support from the bottom up. The softness and support within each layer provides the patient with consistent pressure reduction, comfort, and reduces the risk of decubitus developing. Call or Email American Health Systems today and let us help you get a good nights rest!