How to use a heating pad for pain relief

A heating pad is often used for local anesthesia and warming. It is helpful for treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The heat helps people to better cope with pain in their joints and muscles.

Plus it relieves any emotional stress this pain creates.

If you’re dealing with arthritis, sprains, and muscle spasms, then warming the area is recommended. With cystitis, a heating pad is placed on the lower abdomen.

If you have cholelithiasis – then you should place it in the region of the right hypochondrium. Plus a water heater applied to the feet is known to help people who struggle with migraine attacks. And if a heating pad is applied to the shins, then blood pressure readings will drop.

In addition to warming, a water heater is convenient for cooling. Cold is necessary for injuries and bruises in the first few hours. Therefore, you need to fill it with cold water with the addition of ice.

It is extremely convenient to use the combined model for douching and enema. There is, of course a special device called an Esmarch’s mug. But you can also use a water heater equipped with a tube.

What is heat therapy, and why it works

If warmth is generally associated with feelings of comfort and relaxation, heat therapy has taken it a step further. It has an analgesic effect and reduces pain in the lower back.

Nowadays, heat therapy can be quick and inexpensive – in the form of electric or water heaters pad that can be safely used on the affected area.

Benefits of heat for your health

• Promotes physical health.
• Promotes better and deeper sleep.
• Stimulates the immune system.
• It deeply cleanses the body, removing toxins.
• Cleanses, tones, and tightens the skin giving it elasticity and firmness.
• Improves blood circulation.

Potential risks of using heating therapy

• It cannot be used for bleeding.
• It is impossible to warm up bruises and sprains in the first hours after an injury.
• You can not warm up the stomach if the cause of the pain is not identified.
• With cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and appendicitis, the use of a heating pad is contraindicated.

Heat or cold – what to choose

As a general rule, use cold for acute injuries or pain, as well as inflammation and swelling. Use heat for muscle pain or stiffness.

Heat treatment for different types of pain

Electric mats are convenient because they can maintain the same temperature throughout use, either on battery power or plugged in. Some electric heating pads on the market have different settings and come with an automatic shutdown timer to prevent injury.

Infrared heaters are also electric. However, they convert this electricity into infrared heat, which can offer a modern solution to pain as the heat penetrates deep into the muscles.

How to use a heating pad for back and shoulder pain

There are several types of heating pads: electric, infrared, chemical, gel, or liquid. Which type is best for you may depend on what part of the body you want to use it on, what safety features you need, and whether you’re at home or somewhere else.

Heating therapy for period cramps

You can use a heating pad or a hot water bottle to relieve pain during your period. You need to put it on the lower abdomen and bend your legs. A hot relaxing shower also helps. How long to use a heating pad? Listen to your body.

Heat for sore and stiff muscles

Heat relaxes and can help relieve stiffness in joints and muscles. It is also used after injuries on days when the inflammation has already decreased, but there is still stiffness.

Safety rules by using an electric heating pad

For people sensitive to cold, a heating pad is just a salvation. Like anything powered by an electrical network, a heating pad has its operating characteristics. To safely use this item, you must familiarize yourself with some rules. If you follow all the instructions, the product will last for many years, and you will protect yourself from unpleasant situations. Heating pads: when they are needed and operating rules.

Basic Rules purpose of heating pad:

• Control the operating time and temperature to avoid burns.
• Do not fall asleep while the heating pad is running.
• Connect only to the voltage specified in the instructions.
• You can not turn on the product in the folded state; before that, it must be fully deployed.
• Do not bend or twist cables.
• It is undesirable to leave children with a heating pad unattended.
• Avoid contact with sharp objects such as needles or hairpins.
• Avoid using a Paramed electric heater pad if you’re pregnant for longer than 10 to 15 minutes, as prolonged heat exposure could harm the fetus.

Conclusion

Heat provides temporary relief in subacute and chronic traumatic and inflammatory diseases. Heat increases blood flow and connective tissue extensibility; heat also reduces joint stiffness, pain, and muscle spasm and helps reduce inflammation, swelling, and exudates. A heating pad is an indispensable item in any home.

Get more health tips

Check out my bestselling longevity book Life is Long.