Treating An Injury With Heat or Ice?

If you or your child has been injured and it has been determined that emergency medical treatment is not required, would you know if the injury required a hot or cold compress?Most people tend to reach right for the cold compress to soothe injuries, but there are some cases in which more relief would be provided if heat was applied to the area as opposed to ice. Here are some situations where ice or heat would be beneficial:Ice:SprainsStrainsReduce swelling and inflammationSlow down bleedingHeat:Back spasmsChronic ailmentsMuscle achesHelps to stimulate blood flowBefore treating any injury, make sure to assess the situation. Does the area feel tight and stiff? Is the area inflamed? With any injury that does not require emergency medical attention, it is always best to do what feels right and does not cause more pain to you. If heat or ice treatment is not helping the pain subside, it may be time to consult a physician. It is important to remember to only apply heat or ice for a maximum of 20 minutes at a time to reduce the risk of damaging skin. Also, always put a layer (towel, fabric, etc.) between the cold or heat source and your skin.The health and wellbeing of your child is of the utmost importance to us. Pediatric Health Associates prides itself on being readily available to you, pleasecontact us today with any questions!
Source: Pediatric Health Associates - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news