7 Reasons To Get Heat Pads

If you haven't included a heating pad in your family medical kit, take this as a sign that you should. Heat pads are an effective yet often overlooked solution to muscle problems and back pains, in turn saving us multiple trips to doctors. Well, this is just one of the many reasons to get heat pads. Read on to know more about the rest!

7 Reasons To Get Heat Pads

1. Reduces Back Pain
2. Soothes Sore Muscles
3. Alleviates Menstrual Pain
4. Controls Arthritis
5. Improves Sciatica Pain
6. Better Sleep Quality
7. For Outdoor Events

1. Reduces Back Pain

Whether chronic or acute, back pains can wear you down and not make you feel your best. Thankfully, heat therapy solves the back pain issue and it’s something you need to know.

You can opt for any type of heat therapy and it’ll do a fine job on your back. But, with heating pads, there’s convenience and portability. Some heating pads are electric, meaning you can use them anywhere, whether at home or when you're out. This makes it one of the best reasons to get heat pads. When you use a heating pad on your back, the circulation increases, in turn allowing nutrients and oxygen to reach your joints and muscles. As a result of this circulation, damaged muscles heal, inflammation reduces, and stiffness diminishes as well.

You can use a standard heating pad if your back pain is acute. However, there are infrared heating pads as well that help in severe cases of back pain. The heat produced sinks deeper into the muscles and alleviates pain faster.

2. Soothes Sore Muscles

There are many reasons why one might have sore muscles. One reason could be due to vigorous exercise that causes muscle tear and build-up of lactic acid. Although hot water baths might do the trick, the temperature of the water cannot be controlled.

Certain heat pads have a designated control setting that can be used to regulate temperature and a timer to switch it off automatically. With the heat temperature being consistent, the circulation will be better and the built-up lactic acid in the muscles will fade, making it one of the reasons to get heat pads. Whether you’re a sportsperson or a gym enthusiast, consider buying a heating pad; it’ll be a good investment.

3. Alleviates Menstrual Pain

One of the reasons to get heat pads is to alleviate menstrual pain. Menstrual pain is no joke! Your lower back and abdomen get impacted the most, and the pain just varies in degrees. At times, the pain is so intense that one cannot complete their daily duties. Although medications are there to combat the pain, a more natural remedy would be using a heating pad.

When applied on the lower back or lower abdomen, the heat pad improves circulation, in turn relaxing the uterine wall and cramped-up muscles. This reduces pain drastically, making the person feel a bit more relieved.

4. Controls Arthritis

A combination of heat and cold therapy is used to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis. While cold therapy is used to reduce inflammation and pain, heat therapy helps in treating achy muscles and stiffness in joints. The heat generated will ease pain and heal tissues. The best part is you don’t have to pay a lot for heat therapy since heat pads come within a range of INR 200 to  INR 5,000. In addition to your medications, adopt heat pads as well to relieve the pain as they’re safe and inexpensive.

5. Improves Sciatica Pain

The whole feeling of pricking, as if needles are running through your leg or buttocks, is one of the worst kinds of pain anyone can endure. This is called sciatica pain, and it can travel as far as the calf sometimes.

Before seeking out surgical therapies, you might want to start with a non-surgical remedy first by using heat pads. Heat pads can relieve the shooting sensation in your leg in just a few minutes. You'll feel as if you have an extended range of motion in your lower back, and your muscles loosen up to a great extent.

Also, you might feel tempted to treat the pain by applying the heat pad to the area of the pain, but that’s not the source. You’ll have to apply the heat pad at the lower back and rear pelvis; that’s where sciatic nerve pain originates. If you’re still confused about where to apply heat or suffer from serious pain issues, consult your doctor alongside trying heat therapy.

6. Better Sleep Quality

Work can create a lot of tension and stress within us. The constant hours of sitting at desks, waiting in traffic, and walking long distances can take a toll on your physical health. Once you get home and it’s time for bed, your muscle pains get the better of you, resulting in a poor night’s rest.

You can use a heating pad as a relaxing device to calm your muscles and ease any pain that’s there. It’ll get your tired muscles to repair faster, providing a better quality of sleep and making it one of the reasons to get heat pads. If you haven't included a heat pad session into your nightly routine, then it’s high time that you start doing so. After all, no one likes to sleep in pain, right?

7. For Outdoor Events

This may come as an offbeat reason, but you can use a heating pad just to keep yourself warm on those cold winter days. When attending an outdoor event such as a cricket match, it’s good to have a portable heat pad with you. This will ensure comfort and you’ll be able to watch the game without fear of the cold. Low temperature can be dangerous to your health, especially if you have cardiovascular ailments.

Summing Up

Now you know why heat pads are important and why it’s highly recommended to buy one. Heat pads are the perfect example about how heat therapy can be administered without burning a hole in your pocket. Plus, they have the ability to relieve any sort of muscle and joint pain which will save you multiple trips to your doctor.

FAQs

Are Heating Pads Good For You?

Heating pads are absolutely good for you! They help in relieving pain, soothing sore muscles, and dealing with any stiffness that resides. It provides consistent circulation throughout so that the body can repair itself and heal faster.

How Long Can You Leave A Heat Pad On You?

Ideally, keep the heat pad on for about 10 to 30 minutes at a stretch. This is enough time to let the heat penetrate the muscles and start healing. However, just make sure that the heat level is set at a level where it’s not too hot to cause burning.

What Can I Use Instead Of A Heat Pad?

You can use a hot water bottle if you can’t get your hands on a heating pad. However, a hot water bottle won’t provide consistent heat as opposed to a heating pad.