Does cold water induce an uptick of pain-related symptoms? Well, it varies from one patient to another. Nevertheless, it is important to note that regardless of the type of cold weather chronic pain you are in, cold water can make the situation worse. The medical reason behind this problem is that veins could constrict and inhibit steady blood flow to the affected regions. In this case, blood stays around body parts to try and preserve the available body heat. In the process, the skin gets rigid and tightens to exert pressure on the already sensitive nerves. The culmination of it is a deep pain that will disrupt your sleep and even daily operations.
However, with the right tips and advice, you can combat the situation such that you reduce the degree of pain you’ll likely experience during winter. So, how do you do it? Check the following tips for cold weather chronic pain:
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Avoid caffeine
While taking a hot drink is a sure way of getting you some extra warmth during winter, caffeinated beverages shouldn’t be part of your menu at all costs. As noted earlier, cold weather already makes your blood veins to constrict, and the last thing you’d want is something that narrows the blood passage further. Caffeine will cause the veins to contract and inhibit blood flow to the extremities, just like chilled weather. So you’ll likely experience more pain than when you would have foregone coffee.
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Dress up warmly
Dressing up warmly to beat the effects of winter is an ancient practice that could save your nerves from withstanding unbearable pain. To make your actions as effective as possible, you should target the hands and feet since they are the most affected and most intense. Even with your heater on in the living room, you should get a shawl to cover the whole of your body. The more you cover yourself, the more air particles will be trapped as an insulation layer between your skin and the outside cold.
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Take a day off
You don’t have to go outside every day during winter, especially if you are managing chronic pain. Consider taking indoor breaks at regular intervals so that the body can utilize and retain its warmth to enhance blood flow. Taking a day off also relaxes your muscles, which is beneficial, now that there will be no pressure to cause endless pains.
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Stretch and do light exercises
Since your body is already in pain, you cannot afford to engage in intense exercises. Therefore, you should consider light exercises and stretching to warm up the muscles and enhance a regular blood flow to the extremities. Light exercises that you can do include swimming in a heated pool, taking a long walk, lifting light weights, and yoga. The idea is to ease any muscle tension so that the nerves can feel less pressured.
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Stay motivated
Lastly, you might also want to stay motivated that everything will come to pass, especially if you do everything possible to manage and lessen the pain. The last thing that keeps humanity going is hope and faith. Staying motivated will distract your brain from concentrating on the pain.
The above tips will help you alleviate the symptoms and aftermath of chronic pains, especially in chilled weather. Most importantly, don’t forget to take your medications if you’re under any prescription.