Heat and Cold in medicine - the secrets of Fire and Ice
" Doc, Do I put heat on that or do I put cold on that ?"
Patients are always asking me this question.
The secret to success is simple - act like me. Be contrary. Be oppositional
In other words, do the exact opposite of whatever your body is doing.
1) If your body part is cool, warm it up
2 ) If your body part is hot, cool it down
3) When in doubt, chill out for 20 minutes !
4) Don't do too much of anything !
Patients are always asking me this question.
The secret to success is simple - act like me. Be contrary. Be oppositional
In other words, do the exact opposite of whatever your body is doing.
1) If your body part is cool, warm it up
2 ) If your body part is hot, cool it down
3) When in doubt, chill out for 20 minutes !
4) Don't do too much of anything !
Immediately after an injury it is going to be hot, because of all that hot hot blood coursing to the site of the tissue damage ! Aided often by rapid heart rate and increased blood pressure, because whatever you where doing to get injured often involves an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
This constricts blood vessels, prevents swelling, and eases
pain. Putting some pressure on the injured part and elevating it
also helps to prevent unnecessary bleeding and swelling.
This is
often referred as treatment with RICE. (Rest, Ice, Compression,
Elevation)
This constricts blood vessels, prevents swelling, and eases
pain. Putting some pressure on the injured part and elevating it
also helps to prevent unnecessary bleeding and swelling.
This is
often referred as treatment with RICE. (Rest, Ice, Compression,
Elevation)
Think of professional athletes. They warm up before the game because their joints and ligaments are cool. They iced their joints after the game because they are all hot and inflamed. So the secret remains – if it is hot cool it. If it is cold, warm it up
Some people like twenty minutes of heat, followed by twenty minutes of cool This does not make logical sense, but does have the advantage of making it harder for people to burn themselves or give themselves frostbite.
Which is where I should point out that you shouldn't put ice packs or heating elements directly against your skin. Wrap them in a cloth or something to provide a little insulation.
Which is where I should point out that you shouldn't put ice packs or heating elements directly against your skin. Wrap them in a cloth or something to provide a little insulation.
If you have an acute muscle spasm, ice it to prevent pain and bleeding. If you have a chronic muscle spasm you can do the same, because it still prevents pain. Or you can use heat, which feels good, and relaxes the muscle, and allows more healing blood to flow to the area.
If you are really a hedonist, stand in a shower and let the nozzles massage you. Or let the hot tub jets heat and massage your aches at the same time.
It accomplishes about the same as a visit to the physio or massage therapist, and is a lot more convenient.
If you are really a hedonist, stand in a shower and let the nozzles massage you. Or let the hot tub jets heat and massage your aches at the same time.
It accomplishes about the same as a visit to the physio or massage therapist, and is a lot more convenient.