A hot bath may be relaxing at the end of a long day. But depending on the temperature of your bath water and duration of bathing, it can hold several health risks. Bathing with hot water has both negative and positive side effects.
Having a shower is often seen as a better option since standing detracts
from long baths and the body is not immersed in water. Furthermore, a
person can quickly react and step out of very hot shower water rather
than having to stand up to exit a bath tub.
Negative side effects
Burns and Skin Injuries
Most of us know when water is too hot
for us to tolerate. The temperature receptors in our skin immediately
signal us and we then act to get away from the danger of very hot water.
However, burns from hot bath water is not uncommon. Babies and the
elderly are at a greater risk. Babies have much more delicate skin and a
negligent caregiver may use too hot bath water from which the baby
cannot escape.
The elderly are the other high risk group especially when they have conditions like diabetes. Damage to the nerves (diabetic neuropathy)
can affect the temperature sensation, especially on the legs. In these
cases burns may occur without the diabetic even being aware of the
injury. Hot water may also worsen certain skin diseases and irritate
open wounds on the skin. It can also trigger or worsen itching after bathing.
Drop in Blood Pressure
Heat causes the blood vessels in the
skin to dilate (vasodilation). As a result the peripheral vascular
resistance (the resistance by the wall of the vessels to blood flow)
lowers and the blood pressure drops (hypotension).
However, depending on the extent to which the blood pressure decreases,
the heart may try to compensate by pumping harder and faster.
Not only can this strain a diseased
heart but even in a healthy person it can be extreme enough to lead to
lightheadedness. In severe cases it may possibly result in fainting. For
obvious reasons, loss of consciousness in a bath of water can be very
dangerous.
Dizziness and Poor Balance
Coupled with wet floors in the bathroom,
dizziness and poor balance can increase the likelihood of falls. A
severe fall can lead to a fractured bone or even worse a person may bump
their head on a hard surface in the bathroom. A serious fall of this
magnitude can lead to a loss of consciousness.
Body Heat Loss and Gain
Internal heat is dissipated primarily
through the skin. If there is a build up of heat, then the blood vessels
in the skin dilate and heat is dissipated into the environment. The
opposite occurs to retain heat when the body temperature is too low.
However, when in hot water the skin cannot dissipate heat sufficiently.
As a result the body can become overheated especially if the water is
very hot and the bath too long.
Even without extreme overheating (heat illness/hyperthermia),
the dilated skin vessels from a hot bath may allow a the body to lose
too much of internal heat afterwards. This can result in hypothermia (Hypothermia is reduced body temperature that happens when a body dissipates more heat than it absorbs)
after a hot bath if the environmental temperature is very low (cold
climates) and the body’s thermoregulatory mechanisms do not compensate
quickly. It is more often a problem for the elderly.
Nausea and Vomiting
Some
people experience nausea after a hot bath, especially when soaking in a
bath tub possibly due to changes in blood flow to the brain. It is
often more likely to occur after eating and then taking a hot bath which
may be a result of blood flowing away from the digestive tract to the
skin.
Pregnant women also tend to find that
their nausea can worsen with a long hot bath. It can be severe enough to
even lead to vomiting. In most instances the nausea will quickly
subside after stepping out of the bath tub or shower. Vomiting is
usually not severe enough to lead to dehydration and other complications
but is nevertheless an adverse effect of bathing in hot water.
Intoxication During Bathing
Intoxication be it from alcohol,
prescription medication like sedatives or illicit drugs can be a
dangerous mix when bathing. These substances alter blood pressure and
heart activity which can be further exacerbated by the effects of being
in hot water. Furthermore dizziness and poor balance from intoxication
can increase the chances of mishaps in the bathroom.
More severe intoxication can also alter a
person’s level of consciousness and ability to respond when the head is
immersed in water. It can even lead to accidental drowning in a bath
tube. Having a shower may therefore be a safer bet if a person has to
bathe while being intoxicated. However, bathing alone should be avoided
in severe intoxication.
Positive side effects
Now let us explore the benefits of having hot water at your
fingertips when you want it and often times, even when you need it.
- Lowers blood sugar. Forget walking. A hot bath may be just what you need to lower your blood sugar and burn calories. In a recent study done by Loughborough University, scientists investigated the effect a hot bath has on blood sugar control (an important measure of metabolic fitness) and on energy expended (number of calories burned). They recruited 14 men to take part in the study, who each soaked in a hot bath for one hour. They then compared how many calories were burned in each sessions, as well as measured their blood sugar for 24 hours after each trial. Bathing resulted in about as many calories being burned as a half-hour walk (around 140 calories). The overall blood sugar response to both conditions was similar. Goodbye, gym.
- Fall asleep faster. Hot water relaxes the body and better prepares us for falling asleep. When a tense body enters a warm bath, the hot water increases the body temperature and relaxes the muscles. Relaxing the muscles not only soothes us physically but also mentally. That being said, only 20 minutes is needed and be careful not to fall asleep in the bath!
- Lowers blood pressure. Studies have shown that soaking in a hot bath can lower your blood pressure. This is a great system for those with heart conditions and even those who don’t. But first, consult your doctor if you do have a heart condition because a hot bath will also raise the rate of your heartbeat. If the doc says it’s OK, then it's a great way of bringing down your blood pressure.
- Relieves muscle tension. Hot showers can relieve tension and soothe stiff muscles. If you have a powerful shower head, even better! Let the hot water work like a mini massage on your shoulders, neck, and back.
- Have cleaner, healthier skin. A good soak in hot water, be it a bath or shower, can open up the pores in our skin. And if the water is clean then it can wash some of the dirt and toxins from our skin. The result is fresher and cleaner skin.
- Moisturizes our skin. We may not like the wrinkled skin we get after a hot bath, but it actually has a good effect on it. The warm water leaves the skin moist for longer and prevents it from drying up and getting those little cracks that often appear when it's dry.
- Improves blood circulation. Dipping the body in hot water to the neck is kind of an exercise for your blood vessels. This is because water creates physical pressure on the body and so it increases the capacity of our heart. In other words, when we're inside the water, the heart works faster and stronger. Consider this more like a light exercise and just a few dips a week is an excellent work out for your heart.
- Helps relieve cold/flu symptoms. A hot shower also acts as a natural decongestant to relieve cold symptoms, since the hot steam moisturizes nasal passages. Taking a 10-15 minute hot-soak-break can also really help you feel better while your body is trying to get better.
- Reduces headaches. Most types of headaches are caused by the narrowing of blood vessels in the head. The positive effect of the hot water on our blood vessels can be used to alleviate the pressure on those blood vessels and cure our headache.
- Helps us feel better about ourselves. After a stressful day, take a nice warm shower and try to relax, as it's known that when we feel better physically, we get more confident in ourselves, the more convinced we are up to the challenges ahead. A hot bath is also a great way to reduce daily anxiety as well and make us feel good all around.
Whether it is a shower or a soak in a
bath, very hot water can be dangerous. Bathing in water above 39C (102F)
can have various physiological effects on the body that may lead to
some serious consequences. Some people prefer hotter water than others
when bathing. However, even personal preference should have a limit.
There is no specific bath water
temperature that is ideal but it should not exceed 43C (110F) to be
within safe limits. Babies should be bathed in much lower temperatures
than what would be acceptable for an older child or adult. Water
temperature should be as close to normal body temperature (37C/98.6F)
especially for newborns.
#credit: #healthhype et #myheatworks
