Heat and ice are the two most common types of passive, non-invasive, and non-addictive therapies. Heat or cold therapy works by stimulating your body's own healing force. Many doctors recommend both heat and cold treatments to help reduce pain, reducing post-operative swelling and bruising, inflammation, muscle spasm, aches, circulatory problems and tired eyes.

Whether you will use hot or cold pack, the answer depends on the type of injury you have sustained. But above all, hot and cold agents should always be used with caution. It is a good idea to seek the advice of a health care professional prior to use.

HOT THERAPY:

Hot therapy opens blood vessels, which increases blood flow, cuts down pain and relaxes muscles. Is good for stiffness and ongoing pain. Heat can be applied by an electric heating pad, hot water bottle, gel packs heated in water or microwaves, or hot water baths.

Hot packs help you with:

• neck hardening
• back pain
• muscle pain
• joint pain
• rheumatism
• menstruation pain
• kidney and bladder problems
• increasing blood flow

COLD THERAPY:

Cold therapy slows down the blood flow to an injury, which cuts down the swelling and pain. It can be an ice pack, gel pack or cold water from the faucet. Any cold treatment should be used right after the injury.

Cold packs help you with:

• sprains
• bruises
• migraines
• restlessness/stress
• tension
• vertigos
• headaches
• nosebleeds
• toothaches

Safety tips:

Hot packs in any form should always be wrapped in toweling to prevent burns. Also treatment should not last more than 30 minutes and during treatment you should check skin every 5 minutes to make sure it is not too hot.

Cold or ice should never to applied directly to the skin. A barrier, such as a toweling, should be placed between the cold agent and the skin's surface to prevent skin and nerve damage. And like at hot packs, also here treatment should not last more than 20 minutes and during treatment you should check skin every 5 minutes to make sure there is no damage, such as a
freeze burn (skin would become reddened or blistered, just as when
burned with heat).