How to make and use a cold compress - Medical News ...

A cold compress is a frozen or chilled material, such as an ice pack or a cool, wet washcloth. When used correctly, they can help to relieve pain and ... HowtomakeanduseacoldcompressMedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANP—WrittenbyJennaFletcheronMay29,2018ColdcompressforinjuriesColdcompressforheadachesandfeversOtherusesBenefitsRisksTakeawayWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Acoldcompressisafrozenorchilledmaterial,suchasanicepackoracool,wetwashcloth.Whenusedcorrectly,theycanhelptorelievepainandswellingorcoolafever.Coldcompressestakeavarietyofforms,includingcommerciallyavailableproductsandhomemadesolutions.Acoldcompresscanaidintreating:minorinjuriesfeversheadacheseyepainorallergiesDifferenttypesofcompresswillhelpwithdifferentinjuries.Forexample,abagoficemaybetoocoldtoplacecomfortablyontheeyearea,whileacoolclothmaydonothingforaseriousinjury.Readon,tolearnmoreaboutthebenefitsofcoldcompresses,andwhichtypesshouldbeusedfordifferentailments.HowtomakeacoldcompressforinjuriesShareonPinterestAvarietyofcoldcompressesareavailabletobuyatlocalpharmacies.Severalcoldcompressescanbepurchasedatalocalpharmacyandotherretailers.Forexample,therearespeciallydesignedbagsthatapersoncanfillwithiceathometomakeaquickcoldcompress.Therearealsochemicalpacksthat,whenbroken,freezesimilarlytoice.Theycanbeeasilyincludedinafirstaidkit.Coldcompressesarealsoeasytomakeathome,andiceisoftenakeyingredient.Itisagoodideatokeepextraiceorevenbagsoffrozenvegetablesinthefreezerforuseinanemergency.Iceismosteffectiveintheimmediateaftermathofaninjury.Apersonshouldapplyandremovetheicecompressatintervalsforaslongasnecessary.Ifsymptomsdonotimprove,contactadoctor.Tomakeanice-basedcompress:Findaclean,sealablebag.Fillthebagwithiceorfrozenvegetables.Wrapthebaginathincloth,toprotecttheskin,beforeapplyingittotheinjury.Alternatively,apersoncanfreezeawetwashclothortowel.Todothis:Dampenthecloth.Wringoutanyextramoisture.Sealtheclothinabag.Freezethebaguntilitissolidorstiff.Wrapthebaginalightclothandapplyittotheinjury.ApersonshouldalsoconsiderusingtheRICEmethod.Thisinvolvesrestingtheinjuredarea,keepingitelevated,andapplyingacoolcompress.HowtouseacoldcompressforheadachesandfeversShareonPinterestPeoplecanuseadamptowelorflanneltorelieveheadaches.Acoldcompressdoesnotneedtoincludeicetorelieveheadaches,inmostcases.Instead,acold,damptowelcanbewrappedaroundthewholeheadorthesiteofpain.Anindividualcancreateacoolcompressby:selectingatowelthatcancovertheheadwettingthetowelwithcoolwatersqueezingoutexcesswater,sothatthetowelisdampleavingitintherefrigeratoruntilitisquitecoldwrappingitaroundtheheadIfthefeelingofthedampfabricisunpleasant,placethetowelinabag.Thesametypeofcompresscanhelptoreducefevers.Tryplacingthecompressonthehead,neck,orchest,andseekmedicalattentionifthefeverdoesnotgodown.OtherusesAcoldorcoolcompresscanhelptoreducesymptomsofavarietyofconditions,including:eyeallergieshemorrhoidsgoutmusclestrainsAvoidapplyingcompressescontainingicetotheeyeareaortobabies.Otherwise,bothchildrenandadultscanbenefitfromtheeffects.BenefitsofacoldcompressShareonPinterestApplyingacoldcompressrestrictsbloodflowtotheinjuredarea,whichcanreducepainandswelling.Acoldcompresscanhelptolowerthetemperatureinacertainpartofthebodywhilereducingpainandswelling.Applyingicetoaninjuryrestrictsbloodflowtothearea,whichcanresultin:slowingorstoppingbleedingreducingswellingandinflammationpreventingorlimitingbruisingprovidingsomepainreliefRisksColdcompressesareusuallysafe.However,someailments,suchasarthritis,respondbettertoheat.Ingeneral,injuriesthatpersistforlongperiodstendtobenefitmorefromwarmcompresses.Tolimittherisksofacoldcompress:Neverapplyicedirectlytotheskin,asthiscanresultinaburn.Neveruseacoldcompressonamajorinjury.Neverapplyiceforlongperiods,asthiscanresultinfrostbite.TakeawayColdcompressesareeasytomakeanduseathome.Inafirstaidkit,apersonmaywanttoincludeachemicalpackthatmimicstheeffectsofice.Severaltypesofready-madecompressesareavailabletopurchaseonline.Whenself-careshowsfewresultsorwheninjuriesaresevere,seekmedicalattention.LastmedicallyreviewedonMay29,2018PublicHealthHeadache/MigraineSportsMedicine/FitnessFirstAidMedicallyreviewedbyCynthiaCobb,DNP,APRN,WHNP-BC,FAANP—WrittenbyJennaFletcheronMay29,2018LatestnewsCOVID-19:ResearchsuggestsapossiblemolecularlinkwithParkinson’s‘Weareingestingmicroplasticsatlevelsconsistentwithharmfuleffects’HowthebodyusesfattofightinfectionBeyondthespike:AreTcellCOVID-19vaccinesthefuture?DogownersreportfewerdepressivesymptomsduringthepandemicRelatedCoverageEverythingyouneedtoknowaboutbonebruiseMedicallyreviewedbyWilliamMorrison,M.D.Whenamuscleorsofttissuebruises,thesignscanbecleartosee.Butabonedeepwithinthesofttissuescanalsobruiseandbelessvisible…READMORETreatmenttipsforbreakingafeverMedicallyreviewedbySuzanneFalck,MDWhatcausesafever,whendoesafeverneedtreatment,andwhatarethedifferentwaystobreakafever?Learnwhenadoctorshouldbecalled.READMOREWhatisthedifferencebetweenasprainandastrain?MedicallyreviewedbyWilliamMorrison,M.D.Sprainsandstrainsarebothcommoninjuriesthataffectdifferentpartsofthebody.Theyoccurwhentheligamentsortendonsaredamaged.Inthis…READMOREWhiplash:WhatyouneedtoknowMedicallyreviewedbyGregoryMinnis,DPTWhiplashisaseriesofneckinjuriesthatoccurasaresultofthesuddendistortionoftheneck,oftenduetobeingstruckfrombehindinan…READMOREWhatshouldyoueatwhenyouaresick?MedicallyreviewedbyNatalieButler,R.D.,L.D.Dependingonwhetherapersonfeelsnauseousorhasacoldorfever,thebestfoodstoeatvary.Inthisarticle,wedescriberecommendeddietsfor…READMORE