The unexpected October heat is causing immense trouble for the people. With the given temperature recording up to 30 degrees Celsius, sustaining these sudden changes in conditions has become challenging. The scorching sun sucks out all the energy from our bodies. Going out, commuting, or even playing in the present heated environment may cause some severe aftereffects. What is one of the best ways to beat the heat? It surely is important to stay hydrated, but how about taking a cold shower benefits to end the tiring day? The relaxation you get when you take a cold shower is unexplainable and has many health benefits.
In this article, you will learn more about cold shower benefits and the importance of hydrotherapy in helping the body during extreme conditions.
Potential Benefits of Taking Cold Showers
People usually prefer taking hot showers to end their day and feel relaxed. However, there are some potential cold shower benefits that you might want to consider. Showering with a minimum temperature of 10-15 degrees Celsius is what is considered to be a cold shower.
Some reports of conducted experiments showed the following effects after taking a cold shower:
- Decrease in muscle spasms
- Decrease in inflammation
- Increased metabolism
- Lower stress levels
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Apart from these, some of the common cold shower benefits are:
1. Improved Circulation
The effective functioning of the body is a result of proper blood circulation. Lack of blood circulation may lead to organ failure. Blood circulation can be improved through various other methods, but definitely taking cold showers timely would certainly help. When the body gets exposed to cold water, blood vessels on the surface of the skin tighten. Due to the diversion of blood flow, the blood vessels in deeper tissues dilate, ensuring proper circulation in those tissues.
2. Hair and Skin Health
Cold shower benefits include hydration of your hair and skin. Hot water tends to open the pores of the skin, but cold water has the ability to tighten them. It is helpful in retaining the natural oils present in the skin and hair. Tightening of pores reduces acne and blackheads. Other benefits of cold baths include the reduction of itchiness on the skin and scalp, promoting shiny and healthy hair.
3. Reducing The Stress Levels
Various factors lead to stressful scenarios. Cortisol, also known as fight-or-flight hormone, is released by the body in response to stress. Cold showers help in reducing the cortisol levels in the blood. Thus leading to the lowering of stress levels.
4. Boosting Immunity
Cold shower benefits include boosting immunity. Researchers have suggested that to switch to cold water every few minutes or end it with a cold shower. This sudden shift to cold water will make the body experience shock and alertness. It will help in stimulating blood cells that fight infections. Cold baths prevent you from catching colds and other illnesses.
5. Improving Mental Health
Cold showers benefit in improving mental health. The majority of adults are affected by depression. There are many drugs available to treat depression based on the severity. To get relief from these difficult times, a simple way to kickstart it is by taking a cold shower. When you take a cold shower, your body stimulates the production of hormones like noradrenaline and endorphins. These hormones act as antidepressants, boosting your mood and decreasing anxiety. Researches suggest that showering for 5 minutes with cold water showed results of relieving pain and depression. With the ongoing popularity of hydrotherapy or ice baths, they have become one of the effective methods to treat depression.
Prevention of Muscle Soreness and Spasms
Athletes or the ones who work excessively are prone to experience muscle spasms or soreness at times. They undergo hydrotherapy to avoid soreness, which comes a few days after exercise. Cold water tightens the tissues, increasing the blood flow to the vital organs. Once the body gets heated up again, the oxygenated blood reverts back to the tissues to treat the soreness.
What is Hydrotherapy or Coldtherapy?
Hydrotherapy or coldtherapy is a method of getting exposed to extreme temperatures to cool the body’s tissues and treat various physical conditions. You must have come across actors or athletes relaxing in a pool with ice packs. Ice baths have become popular in recent times and are efficient in treating injuries. Hydrotherapy is used to relieve symptoms like pain, bruising, stiffness, swelling, and muscle pain. It also aids in the symptomatic treatment of certain health conditions.
They are:
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson’s disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Neuropathy
How To Take Cold Showers?
It is always good if you take it slow and steady. Our bodies are sensitive to cold temperatures in the morning, and jumping into the cold water after waking up feels like a shock. To avoid that, start off with hot water and gradually turn the knob towards the cold until you get comfortable. The ideal temperature required for a cold shower should be 10-15 degrees Celsius. If you work out daily, then it is advisable to take cold showers every day for 2-3 minutes.
Side Effects of Cold Shower
Cold shower benefits us by treating various physical conditions and other symptoms, but it has some potential side effects that you must look into.
They are:
- It is not advisable to take cold showers if you’re already sick. The body temperature will be low during those and disrupt the immune system.
- Don’t take a cold shower if you are already feeling cold. The temperature of your body will be low and cold showers won’t help the body to get warmed, infact it delays the process.
- Cold shower benefits those with extremely oily skin as it causes dryness. Excessive cold baths can cause extreme dryness, which is not healthy for the body.
Conclusion
With the extreme heat waves, it has been challenging to dodge the scorching sun. The best way to beat these conditions is by taking cold showers. Taking a cold shower benefits you by making the body feel more relaxed. It’s not just only about relaxation, cold showers are associated with various health benefits. They help in boosting your immunity levels, promote the health of hair and skin, and improve mental health. Cold shower benefits extend for various other therapeutic reasons.
