Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Calm yourself. Make yourself as comfortable as possible. Squeeze or chew something to relieve pain. Exhale during especially painful periods. Move as little as possible. Don't be afraid to take breaks. Try an OTC pain medication (but not a blood thinner). Don't dull the pain by getting drunk. Listen to your artist's care instructions.

Answer: It's hard to relax right before the tattoo artist starts drawing, but if you can, your experience will be easier. Try taking a few deep breaths, talking to your friend or family member, or even chatting with the tattoo artist. These things will help you relax and quit focusing on what's about to happen. If you're very worried going into your appointment, call ahead of time and ask whether you might be allowed to bring items that help you relax. For instance, you might try bringing an MP3 player to listen to your favorite relaxing tunes during your appointment. Many parlors will give you a good deal of freedom as long as your items don't interfere with the tattoo artist's job. Depending on the size and detail level of your tattoo, you may be in the parlor for up to a few hours. While you'll get breaks to get up and move around, a little bit of preparation can make your appointment much more comfortable. Below are a just a few things you may want to consider: Have a meal before your appointment. Have a glass or two of water to avoid dehydration and reduce the possibility of fainting. Wear loose, comfortable clothing you won't mind sitting in for a long time. Bring anything you'll need to entertain yourself during your appointment (music player, reading material, etc.) Go to the bathroom before your appointment starts. Tensing your muscles in an area you aren't getting tattooed by squeezing something in your hand or biting down on something can actually reduce pain significantly. In fact, it's a technique that's use to reduce pain for women during labor and it works quite well. Many tattoo parlors will have something for you to use, but if yours doesn't, consider bringing one of the following: Stress ball Grip exerciser Protective mouthpiece Gum Soft candy Towel, wooden spoon, etc. Don't bite down if there's nothing soft in your mouth. Simply gritting your teeth can cause dental damage. Even something as simple as controlling your breathing can make getting a tattoo more bearable. Try to exhale when you feel the worst pain. You can do this either by breathing out or by making a gentle noise (like a low hum). Exhaling during stress or exertion makes it easier to "power through" the pain. This is why most fitness resources will recommend exhalation on the "up" phase of a weightlifting exercise. On the other hand, it's possible to make tattoo pain worse if you breathe incorrectly. Try to resist the urge to hold your breath during painful moments. This can make tattoo pain more distracting. It can be tempting to squirm during particularly painful stretches of your tattoo appointment. Try your best not to. The less you move, the more precise the artist can be and the quicker your appointment will go. After all, it's harder for an artist to draw on a canvas that won't sit still. If you do have to move, warn your artist beforehand so that they have a chance to remove the tattoo gun from your skin. You do not want to accidentally cause the artist to make a mistake tattoos are permanent. Almost every tattoo artist will tell you this before they start, but it bears repeating: you should ask your artist to take a break if the pain ever becomes too much. Most don't mind, and would prefer not to make your experience an unnecessarily painful one. Don't hesitate to take a 2-minute break and then go back to your tattoo. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a break. Most tattoo artists work on clients with a wide variety of pain tolerances and have "seen it all" when it comes to painful reactions. Remember, you are paying for this, so do what you need to do for you! If you're finding the pain really uncomfortable, you may want to try taking a small dose of an over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller before your appointment. However, don't take a pain medication that contains blood-thinning agents or causes blood thinning as a side effect. These aren't especially dangerous for tattoos in small doses, but they can make you bleed more. One great OTC painkiller that doesn't contain blood thinners is acetaminophen (also called Tylenol or paracetamol). Other common OTC painkillers like Ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen sodium do act as blood thinners. While it can be tempting to show up to your tattoo appointment inebriated (especially if you're treating it as a social event), this is a very bad idea. Most reputable tattoo parlors won't agree to do work on someone who is obviously drunk. This is for good reason drunk customers have a tendency to be louder, more unruly, and make tattoo decisions that they regret later. In addition, alcohol is known to act as a mild blood thinner, leaving you bloodier than you normally would be. It's normal for your new tattoo to be sore for a few days after it's finished. As soon as the appointment is over, your artist will give you detailed instructions on how to care for your tattoo. Follow these carefully and the pain you experience will be minimal and short-lived. The exact steps your artist tells you to follow may vary slightly from the ones in this article. In general, you will want to keep your new tattoo clean and dry, protect it from irritation, and frequently apply antibiotic ointments until it heals. Avoid touching the fresh tattoo with unwashed hands or anything else non-sterile. If you accidentally touch it, wash it gently with soap and water, then pat it dry with a paper towel. Accidentally transferring bacteria into a tattoo wound can lead to a painful infection (plus, it may change the way your tattoo looks).

Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Watch for injection site reactions. Apply ice therapy. Take pain medication. Give the site some rest. Seek medical attention for allergic reactions or infection.

Answer:
It's not uncommon to have some pain or discomfort at an injection site for a few hours or days. Looking for signs of post-injection inflammatory reactions can help you figure out the best way to relieve your pain or if you need to see your doctor. Common symptoms are: Itching Redness radiating from the injection site Warmth Swelling Tenderness Pain Put an ice or cold pack over the injection site. This can relieve itching, swelling, and pain by constricting blood flow and cooling your skin. Leave the ice on the site for 15 20 minutes. Do this three to four times per day until the pain eases. Use a bag of frozen vegetables if you don't have an ice pack. Put something like a towel between your skin and the ice or cold pack to minimize the risk of frostbite. Put a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the injection site if you don't want to use ice. Avoid applying heat to your injection site. This can increase swelling as it brings more blood to infected area. Over-the-counter medications can relieve pain and swelling. Consider taking these medications if you have a lot of pain or inflammation at the injection site. Take pain relievers including ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers under 18, as it increases the risk for Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. Minimize swelling with NSAIDs (non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium. Avoid taxing the area where you had an injection, especially if it was a cortisone shot. This can give the injection site time to heal and may prevent further pain or discomfort. Keep heavy lifting to a minimum if you got a shot in the arm. Stay off of your feet if you got an injection on your leg. If you have received a steroid shot, avoid heat for 24 hours to ensure the injection will have maximum response. In some cases, injections can cause allergic reactions or prolonged pain. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience any of the following symptoms or are unsure about your medication: Worsening pain, redness, warmth, swelling, or itching Fever Chills Muscle aches Difficulty breathing High-pitched or uncontrolled crying in children