How does heat therapy alleviate rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. What are the benefits of using cold therapy for RA flare-ups. When should you apply heat or cold to arthritic joints. What are the most effective methods of heat and cold therapy for RA.

Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis and Temperature Therapy

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints. For many individuals living with RA, managing symptoms can be challenging. However, one of the simplest and most effective ways to alleviate discomfort is through the use of heat and cold therapy, also known as thermotherapy.

Temperature therapy works by affecting inflammation, blood flow, and nerve sensation in the targeted area. While it doesn’t alter the overall disease activity or impact other parts of the body, it can provide significant relief for specific joints experiencing pain or stiffness.

The Benefits of Heat Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Heat therapy is particularly effective in relieving joint stiffness and promoting easier movement. But how exactly does it work?

• Dilates blood vessels (vasodilation)
• Increases blood flow to the affected area
• Improves circulation
• Helps relax muscles
• Eases pain and discomfort

Heat therapy is especially beneficial in the morning when joints are at their stiffest or before engaging in physical activities. It can help prepare your joints for movement and reduce the risk of injury.

Types of Heat Therapy

There are two primary forms of heat therapy: moist and dry. Moist heat therapy includes:

• Warm, damp compresses
• Hot showers or baths
• Steam saunas

Dry heat therapy options include:

• Heating pads
• Heat patches
• Dry saunas

Another effective form of heat therapy is the paraffin (hot wax) bath, which can be particularly helpful for treating painful hand or foot joints.

Cold Therapy: A Powerful Tool for RA Flare-Ups

While heat therapy is excellent for relieving stiffness, cold therapy can be a game-changer during acute RA flare-ups. How does cold therapy help with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms?

• Constricts blood vessels (vasoconstriction)
• Reduces blood flow to the affected area
• Decreases inflammation and swelling
• Limits the production and accumulation of fluids in the joint
• Slows down pain signals to the brain

Cold therapy is particularly effective when dealing with inflamed, swollen joints during an RA flare-up. It can provide quick relief and help manage pain more effectively.

Implementing Cold Therapy at Home

Cold therapy is simple to implement and can be very cost-effective. You can use:

• Reusable cold packs
• Disposable cold packs
• Homemade cold packs (e.g., a bag of frozen vegetables or ice in a sealed plastic bag)

To prevent skin damage, always place a towel or protective layer between your skin and the cold pack. Limit cold therapy sessions to less than 20 minutes and allow your skin to return to normal temperature before starting a new session.

Combining Heat and Cold Therapy for Maximum Relief

Many individuals with RA find that alternating between heat and cold therapy provides the most comprehensive relief. How can you effectively combine these therapies?

• Use heat therapy in the morning to reduce stiffness
• Apply heat before exercise to warm up joints
• Use cold therapy after exercise to soothe joints
• Apply cold therapy during acute flare-ups to reduce inflammation

This combination approach allows you to take advantage of the unique benefits of both heat and cold therapy, tailoring your treatment to your specific needs at any given time.

Safety Precautions for Temperature Therapy

While heat and cold therapy are generally safe, there are some precautions to keep in mind:

Heat Therapy Precautions

• Limit use to 10-20 minutes, 1-3 times a day
• Ensure the temperature isn’t too hot to avoid skin damage
• Avoid using heat on very swollen joints

Cold Therapy Precautions

• Limit sessions to less than 20 minutes
• Always use a protective layer between the cold pack and your skin
• Allow skin to return to normal temperature between sessions
• Avoid cold therapy if you have Raynaud syndrome, gout, or nerve damage in the affected area

Advanced Heat Therapy Techniques for RA

Beyond basic heat applications, there are more advanced techniques that can provide relief for RA symptoms. What are some of these methods?

Paraffin Wax Treatments

Paraffin wax treatments involve dipping affected joints (usually hands or feet) into melted, medical-grade paraffin wax. The wax forms a warm coating that provides sustained heat therapy. This method is particularly effective for:

• Improving flexibility in stiff joints
• Increasing circulation to affected areas
• Providing deep, penetrating heat relief

Paraffin treatments can be done at home with a paraffin bath kit, available from beauty supply stores and major retailers.

Infrared Heat Therapy

Infrared heat therapy uses invisible light waves to penetrate deep into tissues, providing relief at a cellular level. Benefits of infrared therapy include:

• Increased circulation
• Reduced inflammation
• Pain relief
• Improved joint mobility

Infrared heat can be applied through specialized heating pads, saunas, or professional treatments at a physical therapy clinic.

Innovative Cold Therapy Methods for RA Management

While traditional ice packs are effective, there are more advanced cold therapy options available for managing RA symptoms. What are some of these innovative methods?

Cryotherapy

Whole-body cryotherapy involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for a short period, typically 2-3 minutes. This treatment can:

• Reduce inflammation throughout the body
• Alleviate pain
• Improve mood and energy levels

While whole-body cryotherapy requires specialized equipment and should be done under professional supervision, localized cryotherapy devices for home use are becoming more widely available.

Cold Compression Therapy

Cold compression therapy combines the benefits of cold treatment with compression to enhance its effectiveness. This method:

• Reduces swelling more effectively than cold alone
• Limits inflammation
• Provides targeted pain relief

Cold compression devices, ranging from simple wraps to motorized systems, are available for home use and can be particularly beneficial for larger joints like knees and shoulders.

Integrating Temperature Therapy into Your RA Management Plan

To get the most benefit from heat and cold therapy, it’s important to integrate these treatments into your overall RA management plan. How can you effectively do this?

Coordinating with Medication

Temperature therapy can complement your RA medication regimen. For example:

• Use heat therapy before taking oral medications to improve circulation and potentially enhance absorption
• Apply cold therapy after NSAID application to reduce inflammation and enhance the medication’s effects

Complementing Exercise and Physical Therapy

Temperature therapy can support your exercise and physical therapy routines:

• Use heat before exercises to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness
• Apply cold after exercise to minimize post-activity inflammation
• Incorporate temperature therapy into your physical therapy sessions as directed by your therapist

Tailoring to Your Daily Routine

Customize your use of heat and cold therapy to fit your daily life:

• Use heat therapy in the morning to ease morning stiffness
• Apply cold therapy during lunch breaks if you experience midday flare-ups
• Use heat therapy in the evening to relax muscles and promote better sleep

Remember, the key to effective temperature therapy is consistency and proper application. By integrating these treatments into your daily routine, you can maximize their benefits and improve your overall quality of life with RA.

Using Heat and Cold to Treat a Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare-Up

One of the simplest, safest ways to ease joint symptoms from a rheumatoid arthritis flare can be done at home. Applying a warm or cold compress may help relieve RA pain, swelling, and stiffness. This approach works because temperature changes can affect inflammation, blood flow, and nerve sensation.

Keep in mind that heat and cold therapy—referred to as thermotherapy by medical researchers—only affects the area where it is applied. It will not change overall rheumatoid arthritis disease activity or pain/discomfort in the other parts of the body.

How heat helps

Heat therapy helps to relieve pain and stiffness by dilating blood vessels (vasodilation), which increases blood flow and improves blood circulation.

When you want to relieve joint stiffness and encourage easy joint movement, heat therapy can help. Heat therapy increases blood flow to muscles and other tissues, helping relax muscles and ease pain.

You can use heat therapy first thing in the morning, when the joints are stiffest, or to help warm up joints before exercise or another activity.

See When and Why to Apply Heat to an Arthritic Joint

Heat therapy can be moist or dry. Moist heat may include applying a warm, damp compress or spending time in a shower, bath, or steam sauna. Dry heat may include applying heating pads or patches or spending time in a dry sauna.

Watch Video: How to Make a Homemade Heat Pack

Another form of heat therapy involves using a paraffin (hot wax) bath. A paraffin bath can be especially useful when hand or foot joints are painful. You can find paraffin bath supplies from beauty supply stores and major retailers.

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If you use a heating pad or patch, make sure it’s not too hot and limit its use to 10 to 20 minutes, 1 to 3 times a day. Using heat therapy that’s too hot or applying it too often can damage skin. (In rare cases, damage from repeated heat exposure can be permanent.

¹
Kettelhut EA, Traylor J, Roach JP. Erythema Ab Igne. [Updated 2020 Aug 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538250/
)

See 9 Easy Ways to Apply Heat to an Arthritic Joint

Avoid using heat on joints that are very swollen. In such cases, cold therapy is a better bet.

How cold therapy eases pain

Cold therapy can constrict blood vessels (vasoconstriction), which reduces blood flow. This may help reduce inflammation and swelling for an acute injury, or help ease chronic pain and stiffness.

Applying a cold pack can be helpful especially when an RA flare-up brings inflamed, swollen joints. Cold therapy typically

²
Block JE. Cold and compression in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and orthopedic operative procedures: a narrative review. Open Access J Sports Med. 2010;1:105-113. Published 2010 Jul 7. doi:10.2147/oajsm.s11102
:

• Constrains blood flow to joints, helping to ease inflammation
• Reduces the production and accumulation of fluids in the joint, which can limit swelling
• Slows down pain signals to the brain

Cold therapy is simple and can be low- or no-cost. Reusable and disposable cold packs are available for purchase. Cold-packs can also be made from items available at home, such as a bag of frozen vegetables or ice in a sealed plastic sandwich bag.

See 3 Types of Cold Packs for Arthritis

To prevent damage to your skin, limit cold therapy sessions to less than 20 minutes, and place a towel or other protective layer between your skin and the cold pack. You can use cold therapy a few times a day, but allow your skin to return to normal temperature before starting a new session.

Also, if you have Raynaud syndrome, gout, or nerve damage, avoid using cold therapy on the part of your body that’s affected.

See Applying Heat vs. Cold to an Arthritic Joint

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Many people choose to use a combination of heat and cold therapy to treat painful joints. For example, once the worst of your RA flare-up is over and you can return to exercising, you can use heat therapy to warm up your joints before exercise, then cold therapy to soothe joints afterward.

Learn more:

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Treatment

5 Types of Medication That Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Dr. Jasvinder Singh is a board-certified rheumatologist and prolific clinical researcher. He is a staff physician at the Birmingham VA Medical Center and directs the Gout Clinic at the University of Alabama Health Sciences Foundation. He is a tenured professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he also holds an endowed professorship in musculoskeletal outcomes research.

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How I Handle Extreme Heat Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summer is usually my favorite time of year. Not only do the sunny days, pool outings, and endless supply of seasonal fruits lift my spirits, but the warm weather does wonders for easing the pain caused by my rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). In Vancouver, British Columbia, where I live, temperatures rarely rise above 30^oC (86^oF) very often or for that long, which is ideal for soothing my often achy joints.

But there are days when the heat is sweltering, the humidity is high, and I have to find relief — because even though a dry heat can help manage my RA symptoms, too much heat (particularly the wet kind) can intensify them.

Everyone with arthritis is different when it comes to how weather affects them. Some find summer to be the worst season; others say winter is the most unbearable. However, we need to take care of ourselves and stay safe when extreme heat warnings are issued.

Before I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I didn’t really think about the way heat could impact my body and mind. During the summer, I could bounce between parties, festivals, and concerts, never feeling fatigued. I could wear flip flops every day, even though I knew they were horrible for my feet and knees. I could drink alcohol and only felt the effects if a drank a little too much.

But RA changed all of that that.

Now I have to spread out those activities or skip them all together because I know my body and mind can’t tolerate them. When I do participate in fun summer activities, I have to plan beforehand and pace myself throughout the day, unless I want to experience discomfort.

And this summer may be one of the toughest yet, as the heat seems to be especially brutal. According to Forbes, Lytton B.C. recorded temperatures of 49^oC (121^oF) on Tuesday, June 29, after record-breaking temperatures of 47.5^oC (117.5^oF) on Monday and 46.6^oC (115.8^oF) on Sunday. Over a four-day period, CNNreports that police in British Columbia responded to more than 230 sudden heat-related deaths. The temperatures were so high that schools were closed for a “sun day,” as they did not have adequate air conditioning to keep the students, teachers, and staff safe.

Exposure to high temperatures can be dangerous for anyone. But there are certain groups — the elderly, children, people who are pregnant, and people with certain chronic illnesses, like RA — who are at an increased risk.

Why Heat Waves Are Dangerous for People with Chronic Illness

According to the World Health Organization, “heat can cause severe dehydration, acute cerebrovascular accidents and contribute to thrombogenesis (blood clots). People with chronic diseases that take daily medications have a greater risk of complications and death during a heatwave, as do older people and children.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists different kinds of medication that can increase the risk of heat-related illness, such as psychiatric medications (which include antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs) and diuretics.

For arthritis symptoms, high temperatures and humidity can reduce the level or thickness of fluid around your joints, which can cause pain. Similarly, tendons, ligaments, and muscles can expand in humid weather, which puts more pressure on the joints.

I recently noticed firsthand how the heat is making my arthritis worse. I got my biologic infusion a few days before the heat wave broke out. I was expecting a decrease in my RA symptoms, as that’s what usually happens post-infusion. Instead, I experienced:

• Increase in fatigue
• Increase in cognitive dysfunction (brain fog)
• Increase in pain, inflammation, and stiffness
• Skin irritation from sweating
• Trouble sleeping
• Decrease in appetite
• Increase in irritability

And many inflammatory arthritis patients report feeling hot all the time to begin with. It is not uncommon for people with RA or other conditions to run a slight fever regularly or feel like they have one even if the thermometer says otherwise (even though doctors can’t explain why some arthritis patients experience this overheated feeling). This can make us even more uncomfortable and at-risk during heat waves.

How I Manage Heat Waves with Arthritis

Although the heat and humidity can take a toll on your arthritis, that doesn’t mean you have to stay inside all summer. Over the years, I’ve developed a few ways to keep my body cool and my symptoms at bay when the heat strikes.

Dress smart. I dress in light fabrics that won’t feel restrictive on my swelling joints — you’ll usually find me wearing a roomy sundress. I wear comfortable and supportive sneakers or sandals that let my feet breathe. I wear the largest wide-brimmed hat I can find to provide extra shade (and I make sure it’s  lightweight, so it doesn’t aggravate the osteoarthritis in my neck.)

Hydrate. Not only do I increase my water intake during the summer, but I limit my alcohol and caffeine consumption since they can dehydrate you even more. I also try to eat more fresh fruits and veggies and smoothies, which are naturally hydrating.

Eliminate extra sources of heat. Turn off lights, electronics, and appliances that make your rooms warmer. Additionally, try to avoid making meals that require a stove or oven, as those will heat up your home.

Do not exercise in the heat. Motion is lotion for the joints, but exercising in the heat is not safe. Opt for light, early morning exercises before the temperatures reach their peak, or exercise indoors in an air-conditioned room.

Plan your outdoor time. To avoid the strongest UV rays and highest temperatures, try to get outside before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

Take breaks. If you’re going to be outside for a long time, find shady areas or nearby spots with air conditioning so you can cool off when things get too hot.

Circulate air. Have a fan or multiple to circulate air flow throughout your home.

Take cold showers.  Spending all day in a pool would be ideal, but it’s not an option for everyone. Instead, take short, cold showers throughout the day to cool off your body. Even dipping your feet into a tub of cold water can do wonders. Or play with a hose or in the sprinklers with your kids to cool off — my son loves to spray me.

Make your bed cool. Stick towels, pillowcases, or sheets in the freezer at the start of the day and take them out before going to bed. The instant cooling effect can help ease pain and make it easier to fall asleep. You can also stuff ice packs into your pillowcase.

Remember: Having arthritis means you need to be a little more prepared and cautious when hot weather arrives. Stay safe out there.

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How is the production (generation) of electrical energy carried out?

Production (Generation) of electricity is the process of converting various types of energy into electrical energy at industrial facilities called power stations. Currently, there are the following types of generation:

Thermal power industry. In this case, the thermal energy of combustion of organic fuels is converted into electrical energy. The thermal power industry includes thermal power plants (TPP), which are of two main types:

Condensing (CES, the old abbreviation GRES is also used). Condensation is called non-combined generation of electrical energy;

Cogeneration plants (combined heat and power plants, thermal power plants). Cogeneration is the combined generation of electrical and thermal energy at the same station;

IES and CHPP have similar technological processes. In both cases, there is a boiler in which fuel is burned and, due to the heat released, steam is heated under pressure. Next, the heated steam is fed into a steam turbine, where its thermal energy is converted into rotational energy. The turbine shaft rotates the rotor of the electric generator – thus the rotational energy is converted into electrical energy, which is fed into the network. The fundamental difference between CHP and IES is that part of the steam heated in the boiler goes to heat supply needs;

Nuclear power. It includes nuclear power plants (NPPs). In practice, nuclear power is often considered a subspecies of thermal power, since, in general, the principle of generating electricity at nuclear power plants is the same as at thermal power plants. Only in this case, thermal energy is released not during the combustion of fuel, but during the fission of atomic nuclei in a nuclear reactor. Further, the scheme for generating electricity is not fundamentally different from a thermal power plant: steam is heated in a reactor, enters a steam turbine, etc. Due to some design features, nuclear power plants are unprofitable to use in combined generation, although separate experiments in this direction were carried out;

Hydropower. It includes hydroelectric power plants (HPP). In hydropower, the kinetic energy of water flow is converted into electrical energy. To do this, with the help of dams on rivers, a difference in the levels of the water surface (the so-called upper and lower pools) is artificially created. Water under the action of gravity overflows from the upstream to the downstream through special channels in which water turbines are located, the blades of which are spun by the water flow. The turbine rotates the rotor of the generator. Pumped-storage stations (PSPPs) are a special type of hydroelectric power station. They cannot be considered generating capacities in their pure form, since they consume almost as much electricity as they generate, but such stations are very effective in unloading the network during peak hours;

Alternative energy. It includes methods of generating electricity that have a number of advantages compared to the “traditional” ones, but for various reasons have not received sufficient distribution. The main types of alternative energy are:

Wind power – the use of the kinetic energy of the wind to generate electricity;

Solar energy – obtaining electrical energy from the energy of sunlight;

General shortcomings of wind and solar energy are the relative low power of generators with their high cost. Also, in both cases, storage capacities are required for night (for solar energy) and calm (for wind energy) time;

Geothermal energy – the use of the natural heat of the Earth to generate electrical energy. In fact, geothermal stations are ordinary thermal power plants, where the source of heat for heating steam is not a boiler or a nuclear reactor, but underground sources of natural heat. The disadvantage of such stations is the geographical limitations of their application: it is cost-effective to build geothermal stations only in regions of tectonic activity, that is, where natural heat sources are most accessible;

Hydrogen energy — the use of hydrogen as an energy fuel has great prospects: hydrogen has a very high combustion efficiency, its resource is practically unlimited, hydrogen combustion is absolutely environmentally friendly (the product of combustion in an oxygen atmosphere is distilled water). However, hydrogen energy is currently not able to fully satisfy the needs of mankind due to the high cost of producing pure hydrogen and the technical problems of its transportation in large quantities;

It is also worth noting alternative types of hydropower: tidal and wave energy. In these cases, the natural kinetic energy of sea tides and wind waves, respectively, is used. The spread of these types of electric power industry is hindered by the need for too many factors to coincide when designing a power plant: not just a sea coast is needed, but a coast on which the tides (and sea waves, respectively) would be sufficiently strong and constant. For example, the coast of the Black Sea is not suitable for the construction of tidal power plants, since the differences in the water level of the Black Sea at high and low tide are minimal.

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Omsk – the city of the future!. The official portal of the Administration of the city of Omsk

The city of Omsk was founded in 1716. Officially received city status in 1782. Since 1934 – the administrative center of the Omsk region.

Omsk area – 566.9 sq. km. The territory of the city is divided into five administrative districts: Central, Soviet, Kirovsky, Leninsky, Oktyabrsky. The length of the city of Omsk along the Irtysh River is about 40 km.

The distance from Omsk to Moscow is 2,555 km.

Omsk city coordinates: 55.00˚ north latitude, 73.24˚ east longitude.

The climate of Omsk is sharply continental. Winter is severe, long, with stable snow cover. Summer is warm, often hot. Spring and autumn are characterized by sharp fluctuations in temperature. Average temperature of the warmest month (July): +18˚С. The average temperature of the coldest month (January): -19˚С.

Time zone: GMT +6.

The population as of January 1, 2022 is 1,126,193.

Population density – 1,949 people per 1 sq. km.

Omsk is one of the largest cities in the West Siberian region of Russia. The Omsk Region is adjacent to the Tyumen Region in the west and north, to the Tomsk and Novosibirsk Regions in the east, and to the Republic of Kazakhstan in the south and southwest.

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Coat of arms of the city of Omsk

Omsk is a major transport hub where air, river, rail, road and pipeline transport routes intersect. The location at the intersection of the Trans-Siberian Railway with a large water artery (the Irtysh River), the presence of an airport provide a dynamic and versatile development of the city.

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The city at the confluence of two rivers

At present, Omsk is the largest industrial, scientific and cultural center of Western Siberia, with a high social, scientific and industrial potential.

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Tarskie Vorota

The current structure of the city’s economy defines Omsk as a major center of the manufacturing industry, which is based on enterprises of the fuel and energy industries, chemical and petrochemical industries, mechanical engineering, food industry.

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Omsk oil refinery

Financial institutions are widely represented in Omsk, there are branches of all major Russian banks, as well as brokerage, leasing and factoring companies.

Omsk has a stable image of an investment-attractive city. Organizations of the city of Omsk carry out foreign trade relations with more than 60 countries of the world. The most active trading partners are Spain, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Finland, Ukraine, Belarus.

The city is gradually acquiring the features of a major regional and international business center with strong traditions of hospitality and a developed tourism infrastructure. From year to year the city receives more and more guests, the number of both tourist and business visits is growing, which in turn stimulates the development of the hotel business.

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Serafimo-Alexeevskaya Chapel

Omsk is a major scientific and educational center. More than 40 organizations, the Omsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, are engaged in the implementation of scientific developments and research. Higher education is represented by more than 20 universities, which are famous for the high level of training of specialists in various fields of activity. Omsk Higher School is traditionally considered one of the best in Russia, because people come here to study from all over Russia, as well as from other countries.

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A student of gymnasium No. 75

The cultural potential of Omsk is high. Omsk residents and guests of our city always have the opportunity to lead a rich cultural life, staying up to date with current trends and trends in music, art, literature, and fashion. This is facilitated by city libraries, museums, theaters, the Philharmonic Society, and leisure centers.

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Omsk State Academic Drama Theater

The city’s sporting life is also rich. Every year Omsk hosts the Siberian International Marathon, a comprehensive city sports day. Omsk athletes such as wrestler Alexander Pushnitsa, swimmer Roman Sludnov, boxer Alexei Tishchenko, gymnast Irina Chashchina, shooter Dmitry Lykin are known all over the world.