When the weather is hot, taking a cold shower is a popular choice to relieve the feeling of heat. However, health experts warn that this habit can be counterproductive, even harmful, if the body's temperature regulation mechanism is not properly understood.
According to Mr. Rajeev Mehta, an internist at Fortis Hospital (India), the human body maintains an ideal temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius to ensure effective vital functions. When core temperatures increase, the body will activate cooling mechanisms such as dilating blood vessels near the skin, sweating and transferring heat to the environment.
About 60% of the heat is radiated through thermal radiation, 22% through sweating and the rest through convection, heat conduction and contact with cool surfaces.
However, when bathing in cold water, the body has the opposite reaction. Low temperatures cause blood vessels near the skin to constrict, reducing blood flow to the skin's surface, which should have needed more blood for heating. As a result, the temperature is retained around the internal organs instead of being released. The feeling of coolness on the skin is only temporary and deceives the nervous system that the body does not need to cool down further, while core heat is still high.
In particular, sudden exposure to water that is too cold (such as 15 degrees Celsius) can trigger a heat shock reaction, causing blood pressure to spike as the heart has to pump blood through the blood vessel system to constrict. In people with underlying heart disease, this can cause arrhythmia or even lead to death. Although this risk is rare, it still needs attention.
In addition to affecting the circulatory system, cold water is not an ideal choice for hygiene. When the body sweats, the sweat layer is mixed with sebum and bacteria to create a body smell.
Cold water is less effective than warm water in removing dirt and excess oil from the skin. In addition, cold water causes skin to shrink, clog pores and increases the risk of acne.
Instead, showering in warm or slightly cool water (about 2627°C) is a reasonable choice. This temperature is enough to stimulate blood vessel dilation and remove heat from the body naturally, while maintaining a pleasant and clean feeling. If you want to cool down quickly, do it slowly, for example soaking your hands and feet first and then taking a full shower, helping your body adapt without heatstroke.
