I have always been in pretty good health, so I was surprised one day when my doctor told me my blood pressure was a bit high. She told me to begin watching my salt intake, start exercising, and to try to relax. Well, I intended to follow her advice when I left her office, but the next day I was back to my same habits. I kept using the salt shaker and didn't begin an exercise routine like I had planned. When I went for my next check-up, she told me that my blood pressure was even higher and approaching a dangerous level. I had to begin a blood pressure medication to manage it. I wanted to create a blog to share my story and remind people to listen to their doctors' advice. If a few lifestyle changes can improve your health, then you should make them.
Did you know that chronic pain affects approximately 50 million Americans according to the American Chronic Pain Association? If you're one of the unlucky few, finding some type of pain reliever that can provide you salvation from the pain may be all that consumes your mind. While there are many different treatments recommended, many physicians recommend using topical creams for chronic pain, as the topical creams are easily accessible and relatively effective. Before applying any creams, it's important to keep the following 3 tips in mind.
Be Wary of Where You Apply the Creams and Avoid Burns and Cuts
It's important to keep in mind that the topical creams for chronic pain contains chemical ingredients to soothe your pain. These chemical ingredients may not necessarily be best for your body, and should only be applied to healthy skin. You should avoid applying the creams on any wounded areas or damaged skin, as the active ingredients in the cream may only worsen your condition and situation. Ingredients like capsaicin, which is often found in topical creams for chronic pain, may only exacerbate your wound and damage your tissues.
Be Careful of the Active Ingredients within the Cream
The potent effect of these topical creams come from their active ingredients. Because of this reason, it's important that you carefully read over the ingredients before you apply the cream. If the topical cream can be purchased over-the-counter without a doctor's note, you should bring the cream in for your next appointment and have a doctor take a look at the cream. Some of these creams may contain chemical ingredients, like salicylates, which you may be allergic to.
Avoid Use with a Heating Pad
Although a heating pad may have been your best friend for some time in dealing with chronic pain, you should never apply a topical cream for chronic pain and then apply a heating pad overtop. Depending on the type of ingredients that are found within the cream, the combined use of these two products can induce burns. You should use a heating pad separately and at a different time from when you apply the cream.
Conclusion
As different types of topical creams for chronic pain contain various concentration and types of active ingredients, some creams may not work for you. Try out the different variations of creams that are out there to see whether any of the creams are able to soothe your pain.
Share1 March 2017
