Do you have the habit of taking a cold shower when the weather is hot, the temperature is high, after exercise or before bed? If so, you need to be careful because taking a cold shower can be harmful to our health. Firstly, we must realize that our body is still in a state of vigorous metabolism, increased heat production, and skin blood vessel dilation. If we immediately take a cold shower, not only will our skin be stimulated by the cold water, but also through neural reflex, it will cause skin blood vessels to constrict, thus inhibiting sweating and heat dissipation, ultimately resulting in difficulty in dissipating heat and an increase in body temperature. Secondly, the reduced blood flow to the skin leads to a sudden increase in venous return, which can increase the burden on the heart. It can potentially cause abnormal cerebral blood vessel function, resulting in dizziness, headache, darkening of vision, and even vomiting.
If taking a cold shower is harmful to our body, then what are the benefits of taking a hot shower?
Firstly, a hot shower can relieve fatigue, and afterwards, you will feel cooler instead of hotter;
Secondly, a hot shower can accelerate blood circulation in the skin and muscle blood vessels, dilating capillaries, promoting heat dissipation, speeding up metabolism, providing nourishment to all parts of the skin, and accelerating the removal of metabolic waste products such as lactic acid;
Thirdly, a hot shower at an appropriate temperature can also soothe the nerves, relax the muscles throughout the body, and even have certain sedative, anti-itch, analgesic, and anti-allergic effects. Therefore, even in hot weather, do not take a cold shower. At the same time, we should also pay attention to controlling the water temperature. Although taking a hot shower is beneficial to our body, the water temperature should be regulated. It is best to keep it around 30°C.
Friendly reminder: The water temperature for bathing should not be too high. It is recommended to keep it between 24°C and 29°C. High water temperature can easily damage the surface oil of the skin, leading to capillary dilation and exacerbating skin dryness. At the same time, it can also increase the burden on the heart, as the skin blood vessels throughout the body significantly dilate, causing a large amount of blood to flow to the skin, resulting in myocardial ischemia and hypoxia.
