What does cold compress mean?

In the face of some diseases, in addition to targeted treatment, we can also place a cold towel or ice cubes on the patient's head to lower the body temperature as quickly as possible. This method is cold compress therapy. Cold compress therapy can constrict local capillaries, thereby dissipating heat, reducing temperature, relieving pain and preventing swelling. In addition to being frequently used in patients with high fever, cold compress therapy is often used in the early stages of trauma due to twisting and bruising because it can reduce swelling and relieve pain.

Function

Cold compress can cause capillaries to contract, relieve local congestion, reduce the sensitivity of nerve endings and relieve pain, reduce temperature and fever, reduce local blood flow, and prevent the spread of inflammation and suppuration. It can dissipate heat in the body, increase heat dissipation and lower body temperature. Cold compress is suitable for patients after tonsillectomy, nose bleeding, early local soft tissue injury, high fever and heat stroke, toothache and brain trauma. For cold compress, soak a small towel in cold or ice water, wring it half dry, and apply it to the local area. Change it every 1-3 minutes and continue for 15-20 minutes. You can also wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the area, but be careful to avoid frostbite.

effect

Hemostasis: Coldness causes blood vessels to constrict, thus stopping bleeding. When stopping gastrointestinal bleeding, drinking some ice water intermittently is far more effective than general hemostatic drugs. For example, if there is a hematoma caused by trauma, immediate local ice compress can stop the bleeding and prevent the hematoma from further expanding.

Facial swelling reduction

Swelling reduction: After a sprain or bruise, swelling occurs due to the rupture of small blood vessels and the seepage of blood into the surrounding tissues. The swelling compresses the nerve endings and causes pain. Cold compress causes blood vessels to constrict, thereby blocking this pathological process. After the cold compress stops and the blood returns to normal, the damaged part of the body has been repaired and blood coagulation has occurred, thus reducing the local blueing and swelling. Apply hot compress again after 2-3 days to promote the absorption of blood stasis. This is the best way to treat sprains. If you apply hot compress, massage, or move around immediately after a sprain, it will only increase the swelling and do more harm than good.

Cooling: Cold can take away heat. When encountering high fever and general antipyretics are ineffective, people often resort to cold compresses on the whole body, mainly on the head, neck, armpits, groin, fossa and other parts with large blood vessels. Cold compresses can be applied with cold water, ice water, alcohol, etc. Cold compress is a simple, safe, fast and economical way to reduce fever.