When to apply heat or ice for treating pain and injury

Ice vs heat therapy

We all are prone to suffer from pain and injuries from time to time. Either it is due to sitting for hours at the desk or is caused after an intense workout session. Any of these can lead to discomfort in your back, knees, and other major joints making you restless. Most of the people reach out for balm or painkillers for some relief, but another way to get rid of pain is heat or cold compression. Using ice or heat on inflammation or joint pain is far better than popping pills and you can easily do it at home. The tricky part is when to apply hot and when to apply cold compression on your area of concern.

Ice therapy

Ice therapy is primarily for acute pain, inflammation and any kind of new injuries. If you get hurt or injured while playing football or running, then you should opt for cold compress. When ice is applied to the swollen area, it helps to narrow blood vessels and reduce inflammation. Inflammation caused after a gruelling workout session should be treated with an ice compress. Applying heat in this situation can backfire as it can increase the swelling, preventing your muscles from healing.

 

When not to use ice therapy
1. You should avoid it when there is a risk of cramping as ice can make it even worse.
2. Do not apply ice on an open wound or blistered skin.
3. Avoid ice therapy if you are suffering from vascular disease.
4. Ice is not recommended for people suffering from arthritis.

How to apply ice
There are two ways to apply ice on your injury.
1. Ice cubes in a sealed bag.
2. Wet towel in the freezer for 15 minutes.

When you do ice therapy, do not do it for more than 20 minutes at a time. Keep a gap of an hour between two sessions and never place ice directly on your skin.

Heat therapy

Heat therapy is excellent way to manage chronic pain and injury that is not swollen. Using heat on the swollen area can make the inflammation worse and your injury will not heal. Heat treatment works excellent if your muscles are tense or stiff. It helps to increase flexibility, but do not take heat therapy after exercising. Heat therapy improves circulation and blood flow to a particular area by increasing the temperature. An increase in temperature can soothe discomfort and flex the muscle.

When not to use heat therapy
There are certain situations when you should completely avoid applying heat to your concerned area. Making this mistake can make the situation worse.
1. If you are suffering from diabetes
2. If you have dermatitis
3. If you are suffering from vascular diseases
Moreover, if you are suffering from heart disease or hypertension, consult your doctor before using heat therapy.

How to apply heat
There are two ways to apply ice therapy :
1. Dry heat like heating pads, dry heating packs, and saunas.
2. Moist heat like steamed towel, moist heating pads or hot bath.
Apply heat on a joint or muscle for 15 minutes and then take an hour break.

When to use both

There are certain situations when you need to use both ice and heat therapy consecutively. 

Upper back pain

Back pain is very common among people stuck with a desk job. Sitting all day long at the same place in the same posture can cause bending, twisting, stiffness in your upper back. For relief, you should apply ice to the area for 72 hours and then use heat to reduce tightness and increases flexibility

Lower back pain

Lower back pain is a result of strains or over-exertion. The stiff muscles prevent the free flow of blood in the body. Both ice and heat can help to get relief from lower back pain. Apply ice for 72 hours then turn to heat therapy for relaxing tight muscles. 

Headaches

For throbbing headaches and migraines, ice therapy is the best, while for headaches caused by neck spasms, heat therapy can be a great alternative.

Knee pain

Knee pain can be caused due to several reasons like sprain, cartilage tears, tendonitis or runner’s knee. If your knee is swollen then you should apply ice for at least 72 hours to reduce the inflammation. After this apply heat to the area to regain mobility.

Caution

If you do not get relief, even after taking ice or heat therapy, it is best to consult your doctor as your pain may be due to some underlying health issue. 

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Hepatitis B Can Lead to Cancer - Here’s One Sure Shot Way to Protect Yourself

Hepatitis is a disease that, though most would have heard of, not many actually know what it is, how it spreads and the harm it causes. Hepatitis B is, in fact, caused by a virus infection that attacks the liver, destroying tissue and, in severe cases, leading to cancer as the disease progresses.
A cause for concern
There is no cure for Hepatitis B and there is a lack of awareness in India even though the likelihood of contracting the disease is 100 times more than getting HIV. The death toll in one day amounts to as much as the fatalities that occur due to AIDS in an entire year. Liver disease due to Hepatitis B often affects sufferers and causes high mortality rates at the prime of their lives and, after tobacco, it is the highest-rated cause of cancer.


Acute and chronic Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a serious illness when it becomes chronic. Adults who contract the disease are often able to fight it within a few months, gaining lifelong immunity to it - this is known as Acute Hepatitis B. However, infants and children who contract Hepatitis B usually have to deal with it all their lives as the disease becomes chronic, leading to a host of complications.

High risk for young children

Infants and children with Hepatitis B run the risk of developing liver cancer and cirrhosis later in their lives. In fact, the younger the child is when they contract the disease, the higher their risk of developing chronic Hepatitis B, which could go unnoticed for years before symptoms of liver complications start to make an appearance. Therefore, it is particularly important that newborns and children under the age of 5 are adequately protected - it can be a matter of life and premature death. For vulnerable children, prevention is the only way to keep from being infected. This can be easily done by getting the Hepatitis B vaccine.

Who can the Hepatitis B vaccine help?

The vaccine doses can prevent from contracting the disease. This vaccine is taken in three doses within a six-month schedule.

Newborns who have mothers infected by Hepatitis B need to be vaccinated with the first dose right after delivery. The second shot for infants is given when they are one month old, and the third after 4 months. Older children and adults can also take the Hepatitis B vaccine (usually a 2-shot schedule) according to a dose plan prescribed by a physician.

In case you or your child has missed a scheduled dose, the course does not have to be restarted and the pending shot can be taken as soon as possible.
Here is who the vaccine is recommended for:

● Newborns
● Children and adolescents who have never received the vaccine.
● Those who live with a person infected by Hepatitis B.
● Those who work in healthcare and emergency fields with jobs involving contact with blood.
● Those who have a sexually transmitted disease.
● Those who have a sexual partner with Hepatitis B.
● Those who have more than one sexual partner.
● Drug users who inject illegal substances or run the risk of sharing needles.
● Those with chronic liver disease or end-stage kidney disease.
● Those travelling to a place with a high-risk rate of Hepatitis B infection.

For people who currently suffer from Hepatitis B or have recovered from the disease, the vaccine will not improve your condition. It is advisable, however, to get those you live with vaccinated for protection.

How do adults and children contract the disease?

The disease is transmitted through contact with open wounds, the blood of a person who is infected by the virus, as well as bodily fluids. Those who carry the virus may not even look ill or know they are carriers as symptoms can take up to six months to manifest or not show at all. This can contribute to the spread of the disease. High risks include:

● The use of unsterilized needles for injections, piercings or tattoos.
● Using unsterilised instruments that carry the virus during an operation.
● Wound suturing using unsterilised instruments.
● Blood transfusions using blood containing Hepatitis B.
● Having unprotected sex with someone who carries the virus.
● Transmission from an expectant mother to child during childbirth.

How do you know if you are infected or have been infected in the past?

Though there are symptoms that show within one to six months of having the infection, some people do not exhibit any symptoms and look completely well. If you think you are at risk, getting yourself tested for the disease is the only way of concretely knowing whether you carry the virus or have recovered from it in the past.

Common symptoms of Hepatitis B include:
● Jaundice
● Faeces that is light in colour
● Urine that is dark in colour
● Fever
● Chronic fatigue
● Loss of appetite
● Nausea and/or vomiting
● Pain in the abdomen

Hepatitis B is a deadly disease. Don’t let it be a death sentence to you or your family. Get vaccinated and eliminate your chances of ever contracting the virus.

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Researcher Invent Material To Speed Up Wound Healing in Diabetics!

If an average person were to sustain an open wound, it would take almost take 23 days to heal. But that isn’t the case for diabetics.

When a diabetic person sustains an injury, it can take almost 26 days or longer for it to heal untreated. In many cases, this can lead to chronic non-healing wounds and ultimately, complications like amputations.

And so for a long time, the treatment of such wounds has been a major challenge, not only for the diabetic persons but also their doctors. And while there are a few wound dressing alternatives available, they are not commercially viable due to costs.

But what if we told you that one unique low-cost dressing is set to change that?

Researchers in India have developed a wound-dressing using a carbon allotrope and psyllium husk (isabgol), which can help wounds in both healthy as well as diabetics persons heal almost a week earlier than usual.

The testing on rats displayed that the normal wounds treated with this dressing healed within 16 days as compared to 23 days required for untreated ones.

Similarly, diabetic wounds healed in 20 days as compared to 26 days required for untreated wounds.
Speaking to the media, one of the authors of the research paper said, “Wounds in people with diabetes heal slower than in healthy people, with the inflammation or the painful phase taking longer. This delays the formation of blood vessels and the cellular matrix, but the challenge is that we do not know why this happens.”

What does this dressing contain?

This new dressing is made using reduced graphene oxide (a thin sheet of graphite that has been reduced using intense sunlight) which is then mixed with a rubbery electrolysed isabgol. The result is a wound-healing scaffold.

The researchers also added that while the electrical properties of reduced graphene oxide are known, its active biomedical properties were not utilised in the past. And this new dressing aims to explore these biomedical properties.

“The material we have developed improves the blood vessel formation and helps in healing wounds faster,” the Prof. said.

The team of researchers and scientists are now experimenting with various materials that can speed the process of healing.

While the current costs for the fast healing dressing materials are up to USD 2,000 for a four to five sq-in patch, the team is now planning to cut it down to an affordable INR 1,000.

This dressing material is used to cover the open wound directly instead of the usual cotton or gauze dressing. And can then be wrapped over using a normal bandage.

A diabetologist added that the healing time of a wound depends on various factors like the blood sugar level of the person, the location of the wound, the amount of blood circulation in the wounded area, nerve damage, or deep bone wound etc.

“However, it is extremely difficult to form blood vessels where there are none. This scaffold, in preliminary animal trials, has given promising results, but its efficacy remains to be seen in humans,” he told.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

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Hydrogen Peroxide Treats Exterior Infections

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.

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If you have a cut that is infected, soak it in 3% HP for about 5-10 minutes, several times a day. HP is extremely good for treating infections, and you can also pour half a bottle of it in your bath to get rid of fungus, boils or any other skin infections.

 

Note: Do not leave on open wounds for a long time, use the solution and then wipe it off. Over time, HP can do tissue damage to open wounds if left on them for too long.

Important First Aid Instructions

We don't wish on anyone these kinds of injuries as we are about to discuss. However, it is no small secret that most accidents occur in the home, including cuts, suffocation, bruises and concussions.

It is crucial to know what to do when these things happen, as you never know how long of a time you can allow yourself to wait for the ambulance to arrive. Actions taken immediately after an accident have many a time saved lives or at least decreased the damage of the injury. The things you do right after the accident are extremely important. 

And so, keep these advice close by, as it is so much better to have and not need, than to need them and not have...

Nose Bleeds

Nose bleeds occur when the gentle blood vessels inside the nose break. This could happen easily due to weather conditions, a strong blow or a chronic leaky nose. 

What to IMMEDIATELY do: Sit on a chair and lean your body forward. Pinch your nose closed right below its bridge, where the bone meets cartilage. Maintain the pressure for 5-15 minutes. You can also use an ice pack to keep pressure.

Some suggest laying cold metal on the back of the neck or along the spine to narrow the blood vessels and stop the bleeding. For this method, any metal item will do, such as a tablespoon, a coin or a key. And so it is advisable to keep a metal item in the freezer for just this case.

What NOT to do: Do not tilt your head back, as you may swallow the blood, and it may enter your lungs.

When to seek medical aid: Contact a doctor if you aren't able to stop the bleeding after 20 minutes, or if there is no good reason for it, or if it is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears or visual impairments.

 

 

Sprain

Sprains may occur when the ligaments around the joints are over stretched. Bruises and swelling often accompany sprains. 

What to IMMEDIATELY do: On the first day, put ice on the injured area and change it every 20 minutes. Bandage the hurt area with an elastic bandage to keep the area from moving and don't move it for 24 hours. Afterwards heat the area to get the blood flowing again.

What NOT to do: Do not try to 'work through the pain', it will only get worse and you may end up doing further damage.

When to see medical aid: If the problem doesn't get better within a few days, go to a doctor.

 

Burns

First-degree burns can cause redness of the skin. 2nd degree burns may cause blisters, and 3rd-degree burns may cause blackened skin and damaged deep tissues.

What to IMMEDIATELY do: When it is a 1st or 2nd degree burn, put it under flowing cool water or put wet towels on the area.

Common house-hold treatments to reduce pain: A soaked teabag will bring about immediate relief, owing to the healing qualities of Tannins, which are known to shrink tissues.

Soak a bag of tea in cold water, and then put on the skin. These are also a great solution for sunburns.

Uncooked potato: Take off the shell of an uncooked potato, cut it into slices and put on the burnt area, so the liquid coming out of the potato will calm down the burn.

Vinegar: In case of a light burn, white vinegar or apple vinegar will do the work. Pour a little vinegar on a cloth towel and put on the burn for a while, the vinegar will disinfect the area and will stop the wound from becoming infected.

What NOT to do: Don't put ice on big burns. Ice may damage the skin or make the injury worse. You cannot use antibiotics or butter either.

When to seek medical aid: If these are 3rd-degree burns or electrical or chemical burns.

 

Open Wounds

 

Open wounds in the skin need to be quickly treated to prevent infection.

 

What to IMMEDIATELY do: Place  a strip of gauze on the wound and apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding. If these are minor cuts and scrapes, wash with water and soap and smear a thin layer on vaseline or antibiotic cream, and cover with a band-aid or bandage.

What NOT to do: Do not wash nor put a regular cream on a large, deep or very bloody injury. Instead go seek medic aid.

When to seek medical aid: If the wound is deep and becomes infected, accompanied by heat, redness, swelling or red stripes around, or if it has a foreign object in it (such as a nail) - go seek medical aid immediately.

 

A blow to the head

The skull provides our brain with very good protection, and so only rarely does it get hurt, but if it is a strong blow, the neck, back and soft tissues can get seriously damaged.

What to IMMEDIATELY do: If the person is unconscious, call an ambulance. If the area looks like it is bleeding, treat it like a cut but make sure to follow up with a doctor who will check for internal injuries. You can put a bag of ice on the area to decrease the swelling.

What NOT to do: Don't leave the injured person alone. Especially when they are asleep. Wake them every 3-4 hours and ask simple questions ('What time is it?' 'What day/date?' 'What is your name?') to make sure there is no brain injury or concussion. 

When to seek medical aid: If the person harmed is convulsing, feeling dizzy or nauseous, vomits or displays obvious changes to behavior.

Suffocation

Suffocation is a rare occurrence and when it happens it can be deadly. When a person is chocking they cannot cough strongly enough to breath or talk, and his face will begin to get blue or red.

What to IMMEDIATELY do: Call an ambulance. If the person is more than a year old lean him forward and with your palm hit his back firmly, between the shoulder blades, five times.  If that doesn't work, stand behind him and put one fist over the navel area, leave one thumb up and put another hand on top. Apply pressure inwards and up in the direction of the ribs, 6-10 times, using the Heimlich maneuver. 

If you are alone, press your stomach on something solid like a kitchen counter or use your hands to press above the navel.

What NOT to do: Do not drink water if there is a strong cough.

When to see Medical Aid: In cases of a serious suffocation.

Poisoning

Possible risks at home include cleaning materials, Carbon dioxide and pesticides. Even stings can be poisonous for some people.

What to IMMEDIATELY do: If a person is unconscious or is having trouble breathing, you must take them immediately to seek medical aid. Be prepared to give out the next details quickly: What is the substance involved, how much was taken, when, what is the weight and age of the person?

What NOT to do: Don't wait for the symptoms to start to call for help. Don't try to vomit and don't drink anything, unless a medical professional has told you so.

When to seek medical aid: Always and right away.

An object enters the eye

Anything that enters the eye, whether it is a grain of sand or a chemical mixture, can cause pain and may harm the cornea.

 

What to IMMEDIATELY do: Try to blink the foreign object away. If it doesn't come out, wash the eye by holding the lid open under a faucet. 

What NOT to do: Do NOT rub your eyes. Even a small amount of dirt may scratch your cornea and cause infection and irreparable damage. Never try to dislodge a large object yourselves or an object buried deep in the eye. Leave that for professionals.

When to seek medical aid: If a chemical material like bleacher enters, or it is a large object or one that is lodged deep in the eye - go to the emergency room immediately. If it is a small object but it causes swelling or disrupts your vision  - call a doctor.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.








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