ICE PACK DANGERS

Ice packs are great for reducing inflammation and swelling in the body, but there are many dangers associated with them that people don’t know about. Ice Pack Dangers is a blog post about what you should be aware of when using ice packs!

Ice packs can help with swelling and pain while also aiding in the recovery process. However, placing an ice pack on the wrong area of your body could exacerbate injuries and even lead to serious health concerns. Before applying ice to a wound, it’s important to understand your risk factors and learn how to use an ice pack properly.

The 3 Most Common Ice Pack Dangers

Frostbite

Ice burns and frostbite can occur if you put an ice pack directly on your skin, and leaving the ice pack in place for long periods can cause frostbite.

The Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine recommends that ice packs be used for no more than 10 minutes on regions where the skin is near the bone and no more than 30 minutes at a time on areas with greater fat or muscle.

Cover the ice pack or the affected area with a towel, cloth, or elastic bandage.

Swelling

Ice packs help to decrease inflammation and swelling by constricting blood vessels and restricting blood flow to the affected area.

However, keeping an ice pack on for too long might have the opposite impact. When the skin cools below 59 degrees Fahrenheit, your body attempts to counteract the effects of the ice by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood circulation to the wound. 

The first stage of this reflex aids in preventing frostbite, but it can cause further swelling and bleeding if you have a wound.

Complications

An ice pack may not be suitable for everyone. Because of their cooling properties, ice packs might aggravate or trigger health problems in specific individuals.

Don’t apply an ice pack to a painful or numb area.

If you have high blood pressure or a problem with your circulation, don’t use an ice pack. Because cold therapy restricts blood vessels, it lowers circulation and raises blood pressure.

Finally, applying an ice pack to a chest problem can constrict the blood vessels near your heart, triggering angina pain.