AY Honors/Home Nursing/Answer Key
Template:Merge A heating pad is a pad used for warming of parts of the body in order to manage pain. Such pads are now usually electrical or chemical, though in the past "hot water bottles" were used and sometimes still are.
Electric pads usually operate from household current and must have protections against overheating. Chemical pads employ a chemical heat reservoir (see sodium acetate) or a one-time chemical reaction such as catalyzed rusting of iron.
A microwavable heating pad is a heating pad that is warmed by placing it in a microwave oven before use. Microwavable heating pads are typically made out of a thick insulative fabric such as flannel and filled with grains such as buckwheat or flax seed. Due to their relative simplicity to make, they are frequently sewn by hand, often with a custom shape to fit the intended area of use.
Often, aromatic compounds will also be added to the filler mixture to create a pleasant or soothing smell when heated. The source of these can vary significantly, ranging from adding essential oils to ground up spices such as cloves and nutmeg, or even dried rose petals.
