Heart failure weakens the entire body, including the ability to heal wounds. When the heart can’t pump efficiently, blood flow decreases, limiting the oxygen and nutrients needed for tissue repair. This leads to chronic, slow-healing wounds, increasing the risk of infection and serious complications.
4 Ways Heart Failure Slows Wound Healing
- Poor Circulation: Wound healing requires a steady supply of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells, but heart failure reduces blood flow, depriving tissues of what they need to regenerate【1】. As a result, wounds remain open longer, making it vulnerable to infection.
- Fluid Retention Causes Swelling: Many heart failure patients experience edema (fluid buildup in the legs and feet). This swelling increases pressure in the skin, reducing circulation and making it harder for wounds to close【2】. In severe cases, excess fluid can cause skin breakdown, leading to new wounds.
- Weakened Immune Function Increases Infection Risk: With poor circulation, the immune system struggles to deliver white blood cells to fight bacteria and promote healing【3】. This makes chronic wounds—especially venous ulcers and pressure sores—more prone to infection, which can lead to hospitalization or even amputation.
- Reduced Oxygen Levels Slow Tissue Repair: Heart failure often causes low oxygen levels (hypoxia) in the bloodstream. Oxygen is essential for cell growth and collagen production, which help wounds heal【3】. Without enough oxygen, wounds stay open longer and struggle to close properly.
Wound healing needs a constant supply of oxygen, nutrients and immune cells; however, heart failure decreases blood flow, leaving tissues without what they need to heal. Important open wounds persist for an extended period, rendering them greatly more susceptible to infection.
Heart failure often causes edema in many patients and this fluid buildup occurs in their legs and feet. This swelling increases pressure in the skin, as well as reducing circulation, which makes it greatly harder for wounds to close【2】. Excessive fluid buildup may sometimes cause skin breakdown, leading to new wounds.
Impaired circulation obstructs the immune system’s ability to deliver sufficient white blood cells, thereby impairing its capacity to fight some bacteria as well as promote healing【3】. Chronic wounds, particularly venous ulcers as well as pressure sores, are much more susceptible to infection because of this, potentially resulting in hospitalization or amputation.
Heart failure often results in some degree of low blood oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. Oxygen is important for cell growth and collagen production, which are important for wound healing. Oxygen deficiency causes several wounds to remain open for extended periods and to experience difficulty in completely closing.
Prompt medical attention is required when some instances of heart failure and a single non-healing wound are concurrently present.
How to Improve Wound Healing with Heart Failure
If you or a loved one has heart failure and a non-healing wound, early intervention is critical.
- Seek Advanced Wound Care – Mobile wound care providers like Restore First Health offer bedside diagnostics (ABI testing), advanced debridement, and personalized care plans to optimize healing.
- Manage Swelling – Elevate your legs, wear compression stockings (if recommended), and reduce salt intake to prevent fluid buildup.
- Improve Circulation – Stay as active as possible with gentle movement and follow your doctor’s treatment plan for heart failure.
- Monitor Wounds Daily – If you notice redness, swelling, foul odor, or discharge, seek medical care immediately to prevent infection.
Resources
[1] Columbus Regional Health: The Impact of Heart Health on Wound Healing – CRH Source
[2] PubMed: Impact of Heart Failure on Peripheral Circulation – PubMed Source
[3] National Library of Medicine: Hypoxia and Wound Healing – PMC Source