Most people choose the temperatures of their showers according to the temperature of the environment they’re currently in, or, how hot or cold they’re feeling due to working out, or having been outside, etc. Both hot and cold showers may have their own health benefits. So, before you get too comfortable with just one, read on.
On sweltering hot days, it’s natural to want to cool off under the cooling spray of a cold shower. Where else, if you’re in a cold hotel room, for instance, a comfortably hot shower would be a welcome prospect. Which is better for us, anyway? Is one better than the other? Let’s take a closer look at both, and decide for ourselves.
Hot Showers
People generally love taking hot showers, and many switch on the heat in their shower whether or not they need it, e.g. even on hot days. There may be advantages to having hot showers, but beware, for disadvantages also exist. The following are some of the good points of taking hot showers.
Helps with respiratory problems
A hot shower could be advantageous in helping to clear out nasal blocks, allowing you to breathe easier. If you happen to have a chest congestion, and other respiratory problems, you’d probably want to choose a hot shower over a cold one, regardless of how hot or cold you’re feeling at the time. The hot steam has the capacity to soften the mucus and help coax it out.
Relieves sore muscles
Having sore muscles are a norm for people who work out, or, if one is having the flu. A hot shower helps to bring some relief, acting almost like a hot pack over the painful areas. Coupled with gentle strokes or massages, it may to bring calm the tension and knots that are causing body aches. Hot showers also help to keep the blood circulation healthy.
Induces sleep
If you’re feeling restless in bed, a hot shower will help to ebb away the stress and tension and calm your frazzled nerves. It brings the heart rate to a slower pace and therefore leads to calmness and peace of mind. This is probably why people who have trouble sleeping tend to have a hot shower before heading off to bed.
Skin benefits
Hot showers help to open out the pores of the skin, helping to unclog it through scrubbing or exfoliating. After a hot shower, the open pores also makes it easier for deep moisturising, maximising the results of the lotion or cream that you use. All in all, if soft, healthy skin is what you’re after, a hot shower may be of some help.
Are There Any Disadvantages Of Hot Showers?
As wonderful as hot showers are for most people, there may be a few cons to it. This is especially so if you happen to be suffering from certain health issues or condition.
Consequences on the cardiovascular systev
If you have any form of cardiovascular disease, avoid having hot showers for they can be harmful to you. People with cardiovascular diseases may experience hypertension, arrhythmia, and other problems following hot showers.
Depresses physiological systems
The trick to having hot shower safely is always to keep it short and quick, and here’s one reason why. A hot shower can increase the heat in the body (and therefore the acidity level) and bring all the different physiological systems of the body down. When these happen, your health will be affected.
It has some physical effects too
A hot shower will open out the pores, as stated earlier, which is a good thing at one hand for it will be easier to scrub out impurities. However, if those pores aren’t closed off in time, they can attract dirt and other impurities to enter the body and cause rash, pimples, acne, etc. Hot showers are also not advisable for people who have thin or dry hair, for it will weaken the hair and make it even drier and brittle too.
Can hot shower increase libido?
Hot water over the body can turn out to be quite sensual. Coupled with a few drops of aromatic oils, such as lavender or neroli, the entire hot water shower experience may act as a natural aphrodisiac to help with a low libido.
Cold Shower
No matter which way you see it, cold showers (not freezing though) has been studied throughout the ages and have been found to be better for us compared to hot showers, especially on a daily basis. The revered science of. Ayurveda also recommends cold showers instead of hot showers. Why is that?
Improves blood circulation
Cold water improves circulation in the body by taking the blood to your organs, making its effect more beneficial for your health compared to hot water that merely draws the blood to the skin. A good circulation is needed to prevent skin issues as well as maintain a healthy heart, thus allowing better overall health.
Heart-healthy
Cold water helps to improve blood circulation, making it reach everywhere in the body through the arteries. This indirectly helps with heart health. Cold showers also lowers blood pressure and may play a small role in easing blocked arteries. A cold shower is also said to be helpful in stabilising the circulatory system while improving the immune system as well.
Skin and hair benefits
A cold shower will help close off open pores, preventing dirt from getting trapped and causing skin issues. This is why it’s always advisable to finish of your hot water shower with a short cold shower at the end. Cold showers may help to increase the capacity of the hair follicles to grip the scalp and thereby makes the hair stronger and healthier. Needless to say, if you’re suffering from sunburns or inflamed skin, a cold shower will be a far better choice to sooth and calm it down compared to a hot shower.
Promotes internal ‘cleansing’
Having cold showers may help in cleansing the internal organs. While we’re having a cold shower, our muscles contract, leading to elimination of internal wastes including toxins.
Cold showers – More pros than cons
Cold water showers are not known to cause any negative side effects except if a woman is having her period. During menstruation, women’s bodies are already vulnerable and in a certain degree of duress, and hot showers will be better able to help them relax.
Have more cold showers for better health
If you’re used to having daily hot showers, it may not be possible to switch 100% to cold water showers just like that. However, it’s advisable to start somewhere, like switching to cold water for a wee bit after a hot shower. Alternating between cold and hot showers are also a good way to begin – just remember that in any case, finish off with a cold shower.
Cools down the body
A cold shower will bring the temperature of the body down and therefore help combat the heat.
