Believe it or not, heat or cold ice packs can be used to lessen the pain of headaches and chronic migraines. When most people have headaches, they’re more inclined to reach for the acetaminophen before they ever think to pull out an ice pack or heating pad for relief. Myth 3: You can’t use an ice pack for a headache. Cold therapy is ideal for cooling down the body on hot days or during a fever and reducing sweating after playing sports or for individuals who experience hot flashes. Heat therapy can ease discomfort for individuals experiencing menstrual cramps, stomach aches, growing pains, or simply help with relaxation at the end of a long day. Wellness and comfort: Wellness and comfort are essential to completing our everyday tasks and living our lives to the fullest.
Hot compress skin#
Skin and dermatological conditions: Because cold can constrict blood vessels and tighten pores, many individuals use it to reduce under-eye puffiness, minimize skin redness, and prevent oil and dirt from clogging pores.During labor and after birth, hot and cold therapy can relax muscles and act as a nerve distractor to reduce pain perception. Heat and cold therapy can help many women mitigate swelling of limbs and headaches due to hormone changes. Maternity pain relief: During pregnancy, aches and pains are common due to the growing baby and your changing body.Thermotherapy and cryotherapy have an assortment of uses outside of injury treatment, including: Myth 2: Hot and cold therapy is only useful for injuries.Ī common misconception about hot and cold therapeutic treatments is that they’re only applicable for injuries or sustained pain and swelling due to an injury. Although heat therapy can help provide comfort to an injury, if it is chronic in nature, you should consult a doctor prior to use or treatment. Comparably, heat application is commonly used for more chronic injuries. To counteract the cold, our bodies open blood vessels, which can increase swelling-the very thing you’re trying to reduce. Icing an injury for more than 20 minutes can also cause frostbite on the skin or even nerve damage. When icing or heating an injury, it’s not a good idea to leave an ice or heat pack on the affected area for too long because you can cause further damage to the muscle tissue you’re trying to repair. Myth 1: It’s okay to leave cold or hot therapy products on skin longer than 20 minutes. With all of our expertise, we can help debunk some myths surrounding them to help you make more informed decisions about treatment and care. As the leader in hot and cold therapy solutions, we know a thing or two about the technology and application of both therapies. Misinformation surrounding cryotherapy (cold therapy) and thermotherapy (hot therapy) is common because many people assume they understand when to use one versus the other.