Dubai, United Arab Emirates – During periods of high heat, many people resort to taking cold showers. This helps to mitigate the effects of the summer heat.
Although this common habit seems comforting, it can cause trauma and fatal problems.
Although showering with cold water is comfortable for the skin, it does not help lower the body’s internal temperature. When diving into cold water, the blood vessels near the skin contract, reducing blood flow to these areas.
Adam Taylor, professor of anatomy at Lancaster University, said in an article published on Conversation, “Exposure to cold water leads to the opposite of what should happen. It reduces blood flow to the surface of the skin, trapping heat in and around the organs instead of getting rid of it”.
“You trick your body into thinking it doesn’t need to cool down but to conserve heat,” he added.
Bathing with water at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius can lead to cold shock. This response causes the blood vessels in the skin to constrict quickly, which increases pressure due to the heart pumping blood.
This response can be especially dangerous for people with underlying heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease.
Sudden death
The cold shock response can lead to heart rhythm disturbances, or even death when moving from high to low temperatures.
Taylor also warned that taking a hot shower on a warm day is a bad idea. It prevents the body from getting rid of heat and increases its internal temperature.
Studies have shown that showering with cold water does not help cleanse the body. It has been shown to be less effective in removing sweat, dirt, and odor.
Taylor recommended bathing with lukewarm or moderate water, between 26 and 27 degrees Celsius, because it is the most effective. This method stimulates the pumping of blood to the surface to cool the body.
