What is Pagophagia
Are you suffering from sunburn? If yes, apply few ice cubes as it not only soothes the affected area but also hydrates your skin. This is because, ice contains water that when applied on the skin eases pain and inflammation.
8 amazing health benefits of ice!
Ice: A study conducted in various American restaurants revealed that the ice it served had more bacteria than the restaurant’s toilet water.
Ice can be used to relieve pain and swelling, combat toothache, moisturise your skin and to treat piles.
Are you suffering from swelling of the neck or muscle? If yes, apply ice packs on the affected area to relieve pain and swelling. This measure constricts the blood vessels thereby slowing down the inflammatory action of the body. Here’s how to treat swollen feet naturally.
How to use it: Wrap four to five ice cubes in a cloth and keep it over the affected area for at least 20 minutes and repeat this process every hour. Do not apply ice directly on your skin, as it might cause frostbite.
Relieves pain
Be it muscle cramps or pain due to injection shot, applying ice-packs on the site reduces pain and discomfort. It helps in countering pain by soothing the inflammation and improving blood circulation in the area.
How to use it: For pain due to vaccination, take an ice-cube and rub it over your palm and place your hand over the area (gently pat on the site). For muscle pain, rub an ice-cube on the affected area. Do this at least three times during the day for two to three days for better results. Read about 5 more tips to beat muscle cramps.
Aids in piles treatment
Ice acts as an effective natural aid to treat inflammation and swelling and thus, people suffering from piles can use ice to reduce pain and discomfort in the anus. Ice packs may help reduce swelling but care should be taken not to apply them directly.
How to use it: Crush some ice cubes and wrap it in a plastic bag or sheet, if you can t use an ice pack. Cover it with a wash cloth. Now, lie in a comfortable position on your back and apply it on the anal opening. Do this for a maximum time of 10 minutes, whenever you feel the pain. Here are 9 more helpful tips to treat piles.
Removes tan and sunburn
Are you suffering from sunburn? If yes, apply few ice cubes as it not only soothes the affected area but also hydrates your skin. This is because, ice contains water that when applied on the skin eases pain and inflammation.
How to use it: As soon as you experience sun burn or tanned skin, cool the area immediately by rubbing ice cubes over it.
Alleviates toothache
You may find it a crazy option, but ice can actually relieve your tooth pain. Applying ice cube on the sensitive area desensitizes the nerves and gums for some time and provides you relief.
How to use it: Wrap an ice cube in a piece of cloth and hold it on your cheek (near the affected area) for few minutes. You can also apply the ice directly on the tooth; however it can be quite painful.Read about5 home remedies to relieve toothache.
Adds spice to your sexual life
Have you ever thought that playing with ice cubes can cause sexual arousal? This is absolutely true as ice acts as a soothing simulator for arousal, if you are game for that icy feeling that runs through your intimate parts.
How to use it: For a steamy session in bed try various ice games such as kissing your partner while holding a slightly melted ice cube in your mouth. Here are more ways to play with ice cubes for arousal.
Soothes blemishes
Ice acts as a perfect home remedy to deal with oily skin. It not only eliminates sebum from the clogged pores but also control the production of sebum (oil). Apart from this, it reduces enlarged pores and soothes painful pimple eruptions.
How to use it: Cover an ice cube in clean cloth and simply place it on the pimple for not more than 2-3 minutes.
Reduces dark circles
Dark circles as well as puffiness of eyes can be effectively treated with the help of ice. It constricts the blood vessels, keeps your skin intact and reduces darkness. It also combats dullness of the skin by moisturising your skin. Read about top home remedies to get rid of dark circles under the eyes.
How to use it: Add a few drops of lavender oil in iced water and dab this solution over the dark circles with the help of a cotton ball. Do this regularly for some quick relief.
If you have an intense craving to chew on ice, you might have a condition called pagophagia. This is often caused by a nutrition deficiency. Regularly chewing on ice is damaging to your teeth, and it might signal an underlying health condition.
Read on to find out the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pagophagia today.
Craving Ice
Pagophagia is an intense craving to chew on ice. You have pagophagia if you find yourself frequently driven to chew on ice cubes, ice chips, or even frost from your freezer.
Pagophagia is a type of pica. Pica is the desire to eat non-nutritional items such as dirt or paper. If your craving is for ice, then you have a specific type of pica called pagophagia.
If you occasionally enjoy crunching on leftover ice cubes, such as when you finish a fountain drink, that isn’t pagophagia. Chewing on ice only becomes pagophagia when the drive to chew ice is intense and persistent.
Symptoms of Pagophagia
The main symptom of pagophagia is chewing ice. People with pagophagia chew ice cubes, shaved ice, crushed ice, or frost regularly.
If you have pagophagia you might also have some of the following symptoms:
The above symptoms aren’t caused by chewing ice, however. These symptoms are tied to anemia, a common underlying cause of pagophagia.
Causes of Pagophagia
Iron deficiency. Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of pagophagia. In one study, 16% of people with iron deficiency anemia reported a strong craving to chew on ice.
There are good reasons people with iron deficiency anemia want to chew on ice. Chewing on ice helps people with iron deficiency feel more alert and mentally sharp.
Calcium deficiency. Having low levels of iron is the most common nutritional deficiency associated with pagophagia, but low calcium can also trigger the condition.
Eating disorders. A drive to chew on ice might be due to an eating disorder. This can be because your body wants nutrients that it is lacking. People with eating disorders other than pica might also frequently chew on ice to feel full without ingesting any calories.
Dry mouth. If you have xerostomia, or dry mouth, you might develop a habit of chewing ice to keep moisture in your mouth.
Developmental and mental health issues. Other causes of pagophagia include stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and developmental disorders.
Complications of Pagophagia
Dental health problems. Pagophagia can have serious consequences for your dental health. The American Dental Association lists ice as one of the top nine foods that damage your teeth.
Chewing ice can:
- Damage tooth your enamel making you more likely to get to cavities
- Damage braces or fillings
- Crack your teeth
- Irritate your gums and cause gum recession
Malnutrition. If your craving for ice has pushed other food off your plate, pagophagia can cause malnutrition. The risk of malnutrition increases if your ice chewing habit is primarily caused by an eating disorder.
Anemia complications. Iron deficiency anemia, the most common cause of pagophagia, can lead to serious complications if not treated.
- Irregular heartbeat
- Enlarged heart
- Pregnancy complications such as premature birth
- Increased infections
- Growth and development delays in children
Treatments for Pagophagia
If you have pagophagia, you need to treat the underlying cause.
If your pagophagia is caused by iron deficiency, treatment will depend on the severity of your anemia.
Treatment options include:
- Increasing the iron in your diet, by eating foods rich in iron like eggs, leafy greens, and enriched breads
- Iron supplements, either over-the-counter or prescribed
- Iron infusions
- Blood transfusions
With proper treatment, you can expect your symptoms to improve quickly. Even before your hemoglobin levels rise, you will find you have less of a craving for ice. Hemoglobin is the measure of red blood cells that carry oxygen in your body. A low level can show you have an iron deficiency.
If your pagophagia is caused by an eating disorder, stress, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, then cognitive behavior therapy can help.
If your pagophagia is caused by dry mouth, try switching from ice to sugar-free chewing gum. This will be safer for your teeth and will encourage saliva production. Depending on the cause, there are a variety of dry mouth treatments available that can increase saliva production.
If you can’t stop yourself from chewing on ice as you work to address the cause of your pagophagia, stick to either shaved ice or small and mostly melted pieces. This will do less damage to your teeth than larger chunks or cubes.
If you find yourself chewing on ice throughout the day, your body might be trying to tell you something. Protect your teeth and your health by addressing the cause of your ice cravings.
