Skip to main content

Heating pads – how they come to the rescue when you’re in pain?

Heating Pads

You often resort to a hot bath or some form of heat application when there's been an incessantly flustering pain in a certain body part of yours! Why does a heat application or the prompt use of a heating pad occur to us when we are in pain? Here's the science behind heat therapy…

How does heat therapy work?

Heating, in a particular body part dilates the blood vessels which allows a better flow of blood. Before getting into why enhanced blood relieves pain, we need to dig into the cause of the pain or soreness! Muscle pain and soreness emanate from the accumulation of lactic acid in that particular part of the body.

Why did lactic acid build up in that body part? Lactic acid may build up in an area that is receiving the ‘bad blood’. By bad blood, I meant to say an inadequate blood flow that causes the insufficient supply of oxygen to the area. This results in muscle soreness and aches in the concerned region. As the application of heat normalizes the blood flow as well as the supply of oxygen, the lactic acid is eliminated coupled with the pain going down gradually.

[Read Also: Heating Pad - An Effective Pain Reliever!]


Things to remember while using a heating pad

  • No matter how much pain you are in, you cannot afford to put on a heating pad and doze off. Even lesser amounts of heat have the potential to burn your skin if carelessly left unattended!

  • It's advisable not to apply the pad directly to your skin. Always do the same over an item of clothing.

  • Diabetic patients need to consult their healthcare provider before using any heating packs as they are often lesser capable of assessing the heat.

  • Pregnant women cannot apply a heating pad on or near their abdomen – it may damage the fetus!

Did you know about a ‘moist’ heat therapy?

This logic is rather simple – a moist temperature is better absorbed by the skin pores than a dry one. Also, the former feels more comfortable on the skin as it is lesser prone to irritating the skin and giving it a burning sensation!

There are a lot of other variants of heating pads for you to choose from according to your needs and pocket-size of course!

Labels:
Location: New York, NY, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cervical Collar for Neck Support

Cervical Collars With age, many older adults suffer from neck pain and are usually prescribed a cervical collar which is not a remedy; it is a medical accessory to manage a few health conditions that might lead to neck issues. Cervical spondylosis, neck surgery, stiffness, and pain in the neck can be managed with the aid of cervical collars. The latter broadly comes in 2 variants – the soft cervical collars and the hard variants. The soft cervical collars The softer variant is usually prescribed for mild conditions and worn for only a short duration of time. They are made of felt, foam, or rubber and sits more below the jaw.  The hard cervical collars The harder variants are used to restrict head movements to help healing in severe conditions like  trauma, or fracture in the spine.They are made from materials like plastic or plexiglass and are advised for long duration.   When sleeping with a collar, you need to take certain precautions, like the neck needs to be in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Technology at its best during the lockdown days

      It’s been more than a year now that we have been compelled to abandon ‘outdoor fun’. You and I, in turn, have earnestly thanked technology, at some point of time or the other, for helping us cope with this harsh ‘new normal’. Online streaming of movies, chatting apps, video conferencing with colleagues and business partners, music apps, etc. have done their best to keep us going, haven’t they? Think of the music apps nowadays that come along with ‘collaborative playlists’ – the creator of the playlist decides upon a group of friends or family members who can have access to the playlist. In a way, therefore, you are socializing! Again, you are not to forget the OTT platforms on which people have spent hours watching their favourite content. Home schooling This has again been successfully possible for the one of the biggest boons to mankind named ‘technology’. Initially parents, especially the working mums and dads found themselves hard-pressed between office work and...
Post a Comment
Read more