Hydrotherapy or water therapy has been around for centuries. Water, both cold and do have different health benefits.
Other than therapies, people crave specific water temperatures according to situations. It’s common for the body to crave a hot shower during mornings because of its feel over the body.
Again most people crave cold showers after intense activities like workouts etc. Regardless of the body’s feelings after either shower, you should know that cold and hot showers are beneficial.
In this article, you will learn about the effect of a hot shower on your body temperature. So let’s find out.
Can a Hot Shower Raise Your Temperature?
Yes, taking a hot shower indeed relieves tension and soothes muscle fatigue. However, a hot shower will also raise your body’s temperature.
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Heat is usually transferable, and therefore an object with less heat will take heat from a hotter object. The difference ratio directly affects the heat transfer rate.
The heat transfer rate will be faster if the heat difference between bodies is more considerable. Your internal body temperature will quickly rise if you take a hot shower.
It’s simply because of the heat from the hot water transfers to your body. The amount of heat that transfers to your body depends on several factors.
There are times when hot showers raise your body temperature to a point where you feel hot and sweaty.
In other instances, the body temperature will slightly rise, and you might not notice the difference. That’s unless you take the temperature measurements before and after the shower.
Why Do People Feel Feverish After A Hot Shower?
The feverish feeling is quite common, and it’s because of the high humidity in your bathroom. The humidity is usually higher during warmer days than in the cold season.
The bathroom will also be humid if it’s poorly ventilated. High humidity plus increased body temperature after hot showers will have you feeling slightly hot.
At certain times you’ll be sweaty and sticky, and this feeling might make you reconsider jumping back into the shower. However, there are certain things you can do to avoid the feverish feeling after hot showers.
Firstly, you can gradually lower the water temperature before you finish showering. You can do it for some seconds since it takes about ten seconds for the human body to adjust to a new temperature.
The other way is by simply rinsing your hair with cold water, and it will help remove cold water from your scalp. These tricks will surely enable you to stay fresh by eliminating the sweaty and sticky feeling accompanying a hot shower.
The Benefits Of Hot Shower
The hot showers are usually therapeutic after a tiring day. However, there are several other benefits tied to hot showers. Here are some of them.
It relieves muscle tension
The hot showers are impressive because of their ability to relieve muscle tension. A powerful hot shower is similar to a mini massager and will soothe the stiff muscles on your neck, back, and shoulders.
Better blood circulation
The warm showers improve blood circulation. It does this by widening the blood vessels, thus improving blood flow.
The widening blood vessels happen when you expose yourself to high temperatures such as warm showers. It’s a great thing for people who suffer from chronic illnesses.
Reduces flu and cold symptoms
The hot shower steam is simply a natural decongestant and reduces the flu and cold symptoms. When you breathe the hot steam, it moisturizes your nasal passages.
Plus, it loosens up the phlegm and opens the airway, allowing you to breathe easily and have an overall better feeling.
Lowers blood pressure
Warms showers are undoubtedly ideal for people suffering from hypertension. It’s because it helps lower blood pressure.
You, however, need to be so considerate of the shower temperature. It shouldn’t be too hot; a hot shower increases the heart rate. It’s not good if you have any heart condition.
Improves brain health
Hot showers have tremendous effects on your brain. It has direct effects on BDNF, which is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
It increases the production of BDN.
The BDNF is simply a protein, and it performs several functions on the spinal cord and brain. Some of its functions include:
- Promotes learning and memory
- Promotes maturation, maintenance, survival, and growth of the nerve cells
Improves sleep
Medics recommend taking a hot bath or shower before bed to improve sleep.
The hot shower improves sleep quality because it relaxes the body. In addition, the fall in body temperature also affects sleep quality.
Cold Showers
People dread a cold shower or bath because of its feeling. However, you need also to introduce a cold shower to your daily routine.
Cold showers are also therapeutic and have some health benefits. Here are some of the widespread health benefits of a cold bath or shower.
Increases blood circulation
Health experts and medics recommend cold showers because of their effect on blood circulation. The cold water constricts circulation on your body’s surface.
Therefore blood in the deeper tissues circulates faster, which helps maintain your ideal body temperature. The effect of a cold shower is simply the opposite of that of a hot shower.
Therefore it will be different for people with cardiovascular disease or hypertension. It is because exposure to cold temperatures reduces the inflammation of the circulatory system, which prevents cardiovascular disease.
Boosts weight loss
There are specific fat cells that generate heat by burning fat. The cells do this when you expose them to cold conditions such as showers etc.
The cells are mainly on the shoulder and neck area. Therefore cold showers will help you cut weight.
Your skin and hair get a healthy glow
There is not much scientific research on the effect of cold water on your skin, but there’s some evidence that it has positive effects.
According to wellness experts, cold water constricts and tightens the blood flow, offering your skin a healthier glow.
Coldwater will strengthen your hair cuticles, and unlike hot water, it won’t dry the sebum layer.
The sebum is simply the naturally lubricated barrier that protects your hair and skin. Therefore cold water effects tend to make your hair healthier and stronger with time.
Why People Love Hot Showers?
This article has several benefits of the hot shower in this article—however, most people with trouble falling asleep or relaxing love hot showers.
It’s because it eases the daily stress. Hot showers will relax your muscle by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
The nervous system is responsible for making us tired. The other benefits of a hot shower include relieving respiratory symptoms and helping with blemishes.
Which Is Better, Hot Or Cold Shower?
The benefits of both hot and cold showers are apparent. However, the best way to do it is to take a lukewarm shower and then use a moisturizer to dump your skin after bathing.
The contrast shower technique can also be pretty helpful to your body. It’s pretty simple and will have you benefiting a lot.
You open your cold water; it should be as cold as possible, and then stand in the shower for one minute. After one minute, turn it to hot water and stand in it for a minute.
The water should be as hot as your body can withstand. Alternate the one minute between cold and hot water for around three to five cycles.
The benefits of each water type complement each other well. The cold shower constricts your blood vessels. Therefore this pushes the blood to deeper parts of your body.
On the other hand, the hot shower opens the vessels, and blood comes rushing out again.
With this technique, blood will completely pump to all your organs and muscles. It’s ideal for detoxification and regeneration.
Other Activities That Can Warm Up Your Body
Several physical activities will surely warm up your body. However, you should note that not all physical activities will boost your body’s core temperature.
Let’s look at some of your activities to boost your body temperature.
Walking
If you want to get some fresh air or work outside, the trick is to be on the move. If you are thinking of overexerting yourself, you should warm up your muscles first.
You need to ensure blood is freely moving through your body. You can take strides at your home or neighborhood, which will surely keep your body temperature steady.
Jumping jacks
The average blood flow won’t affect the core body temperature. Plus, if you decide to do intense or long-term cardio exercise, you might experience a decrease in skin temperature when you sweat.
If you do some quick jumping jacks, you will increase your heart rate, and this will boost circulation and, in turn, increase the overall body temperature.
Conclusion
Water therapy has been around for centuries. The therapy involves both hot and cold showers.
Hot showers are therapeutic and have several health benefits.
However, you need to know that a hot shower will undoubtedly raise your body temperature because heat is transferable.
A cold shower also has its benefits, and thus you shouldn’t disregard it. You should include it in your daily routine.
