Are Cold Showers Actually Good For Your Health?

A morning cold shower is a very uncomfortable way to begin the day. However, due to the numerous alleged physical and mental health benefits of submerging oneself in cold water, many have been persuaded to adopt the practice.

Early 19th-century doctors created cold showers for use on asylum and prison inmates to “cool hot, inflamed minds and to instill terror to subdue impetuous wills” before using them for therapeutic purposes.

The Victorians realized by the middle of the 19th century that the shower could be used for other purposes, such as bathing people, and that it would be preferable if the water was warm. So the shower changed from a tool to inflict misery for an hour and a half to a very pleasant experience lasting approximately five minutes.

However, the custom of having a cold shower for health reasons never really died and, in fact, appears to be experiencing a return. Particularly among those from Silicon Valley.

But what do the facts indicate?

According to a sizable study from the Netherlands, people who take cold showers are less likely to miss work due to illness than those who take warm showers.

Over 3,000 participants were divided into four groups and instructed to take daily warm showers. However, three different groups were given the option of finishing with 30 seconds, 60 seconds, or 90 seconds of cold water. The only option for the control group was a warm shower. For one month, the participants were required to adhere to this regimen. (However, 64% kept up the cold-water routine since they like it so much.)

After a three-month follow-up, they discovered that the cold water groups had a 29% lower rate of self-reported ill days taken from work. It’s interesting that the duration of the cold water had no impact on the absence due to illness.

It’s unclear why a cold water blast might prevent illness, although some study indicates it might have something to do with bolstering the immune system. According to a study from the Czech Republic, “athletic young men” who submerged themselves in cold water three times per week for six weeks saw a small improvement in their immunological function. To support these results, more extensive research are required.

Additionally, it appears that exposure to cold water stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which controls the flight or fight response, in humans (an instinctive physiological response to something that feels scary, distressing, or harmful). You experience a rise in the hormone noradrenaline when this is engaged, such as when taking a cold shower. This is what most likely contributes to the rise in heart rate and blood pressure seen in response to exposure to cold water and is associated with the aforementioned health benefits.

Immersion in cold water has also been demonstrated to increase circulation. Blood flow to the skin is reduced when exposed to cold water. Blood flow to the skin’s surface increases when the flow of cold water stops because the body must warm itself. Some researchers believe that this might increase circulation. After four weeks, a study that examined the effects of cold water immersion on blood flow to and from the muscles revealed that it had improved.

There is some proof that taking a cold shower can aid in weight loss. According to a study, 14°C cold water immersion enhanced metabolism by 350%. A greater metabolism roughly equates to more energy expended because metabolism is the process by which your body transforms food and liquids into energy.

Cold showers may be beneficial for your emotional health in addition to your physical health. According to one school of thinking, exposure to cold water stimulates the fight-or-flight reaction, which increases mental alertness. It has been demonstrated that applying cold water to the face and neck can enhance cognitive function in older persons.

Another method for easing depressive symptoms is to take a cold shower. One theory is that a cold shower transmits an excessive number of electrical signals from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which may have an anti-depressive impact, due to the skin’s dense population of cold receptors.

Even though the exact reasons why cold water immersion or taking a cold shower are good for your health, there is a reasonable amount of evidence to support this. However, you should be aware that taking a cold shower has some risks before you start turning on the cold water toward the conclusion of your shower. Because a fast burst of cold water shocks the body, it can be hazardous for those who already have cardiac problems and may lead to a heart attack or irregular heartbeat.

Source: realclearscience.com