Table of Contents
- Should you take a cold shower during hot weather?
- Are individuals who take cold showers in hot weather more resilient than those who take warm showers?
- Does taking cold showers have an energizing effect?
- Can regular cold showers aid in recovery?
- Do cold showers help reduce symptoms of depression?
- Can frequent cold showers make you ill?
- What is the actual impact of taking cold showers on physical well-being?
In the blistering heat, when perspiration pours out and the brain feels like it's about to melt, the body yearns for cool relief. Some seek solace in an ice-cold beverage, while others opt for a more extreme solution: (icy-)cold showers. However, this is not recommended. Cold showers are not inherently beneficial. A fact check.
Should you take a cold shower during hot weather?
The temporary chill of a cold shower in hot weather may offer relief, but it's short-lived. Shortly after the brief cooling, the body heats up again. In cooler weather, the body constricts sweat pores and blood vessels to counteract the temperature drop. After a cold shower, the body works to quickly return to its normal temperature. This process requires additional energy, causing you to sweat even more. Additionally, the extreme temperature difference can strain the circulatory system.
Are individuals who take cold showers in hot weather more resilient than those who take warm showers?
The belief that cold showers boost the immune system and make us less susceptible to illness is widespread, but there's no concrete evidence to support this claim. While studies have been conducted on this topic, they were not comprehensive. For example, an older study by the University of Jena found that regular cold chest showers could increase the number of immune-relevant cells, at least in the short term. However, it's not proven whether this contributes to being more resistant to colds.
A Dutch research team found that people who regularly took cold showers reported illness less often. However, participants who continued to take warm showers displayed the same duration of illness symptoms. It's suspected that cold showers may not prevent illness, but could potentially shorten its duration. Whether cold showers have an impact on how often and how long we get sick is not proven - yet it's not ruled out either.
Does taking cold showers have an energizing effect?
This is true, but it should not be viewed solely positively. In fact, the body reacts to the sudden cold with stress. This releases noradrenaline, which increases pulse and blood pressure. This puts the body into a kind of "alert" state. A natural reaction to stress that prepares for potential conflict. This can be perceived as invigorating, sometimes even euphoric. However, researchers from the Czech Republic discovered that a habituation effect occurs. Those who regularly took cold showers, at least three times a week in the study, became less sensitive to cold over time and reacted less stressed. Consequently, the energizing effect also decreased. However, this study is too small to draw reliable conclusions from it.
It's also worth noting that a study of several studies found that cold showers can actually help alleviate muscle soreness and other post-workout symptoms. A 15-degree Celsius bath was found to be an effective means of recovery - although not as effective as massages or stretching.
Can regular cold showers help alleviate symptoms of depression?
The data is limited and not particularly reliable, but there are suggestions that cold showers can be beneficial for mental health. Cold stimuli activate brain areas responsible for feelings of happiness and empathy, as shown by an older study from the University of Virginia. Experts assume that overcoming one's comfort zone, enduring the "inner lazy person", and the discipline required to take cold showers can contribute to an improvement in mental health.
Can frequent cold showers make you ill?
Anyone who has tried standing in a cold mountain stream knows the agony it can cause. Particularly for beginners, cold can be initially unpleasant. In the course of a study, participants reported symptoms such as dizziness, cramps, and itching. Persistent cold hands and feet were the most common side effect (13 percent). While serious consequences in healthy individuals have not been reported, cold stimuli can be dangerous. Caution is advised with ice baths. Because cold can exacerbate existing illnesses and increase the risk of heart and lung diseases. The likelihood of a heart attack or stroke increases. Elderly individuals and those with health issues, especially heart and circulatory diseases, should only take cold showers after consulting a doctor.
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Sources: Study on disease courses, Study on hydrotherapy, Study on stress, Study on athletes, Study on side effects, Study on psyche,
After the temporary relief from the intense heat, the body quickly warms up again, requiring additional energy and causing more sweating due to the effort of returning to normal temperature following a cold shower. Despite popular belief, there isn't sufficient evidence to claim that cold showers boost the immune system or make individuals less susceptible to illness.
Despite the initial stress-induced noradrenaline release resulting in increased pulse and blood pressure, regular cold showers can lead to habituation and a decrease in the invigorating effect over time. However, a study found that a cold bath of 15 degrees Celsius can help alleviate post-workout symptoms, although not as effectively as massages or stretching.
