A warm bath can be a relaxation after work and activities all day. Here are the benefits of a warm bath that you can feel
Hot showers are usually done by people who can't stand bathing in cold water. The benefits he usually feels are a calming sensation for the body and mind.
After doing tiring activities and struggling with a lot of work, cleaning yourself with a warm bath is indeed a good choice. Here are a series of benefits that can be felt after a warm bath.
hot water benefits
In Japan there are public hot spring baths called sento. This place is usually visited by people after work. There, sento is also considered to cleanse the body and mind
In Indonesia, there may not be many hot springs that can be visited every day. However, you can take a warm bath at home. What are the benefits of a warm bath for our bodies?
1.Has a therapeutic effect
A dermatologist from New York, United States, dr. Bobby Buka said that there are benefits of bathing with warm water for health because the skin is able to release endorphins when it is moistened with warm water. Therefore, a warm bath can provide a therapeutic and refreshing effect. Blood flow to the skin is increased.
If you want to get this sensation, you can mix warm water with salt. In addition, increased body temperature makes neuron cells more sensitive and makes the heart rate increase. So, the benefits of a warm bath mixed with salt make the body feel fresh
2.Helps improve breathing
Did you know? That the temperature of warm water and the pressure on your chest can increase lung capacity and oxygen intake. Just like the effect of a sauna bath, according to several studies that have developed, the benefits of bathing using warm water can reduce the risk of heart attack, improve blood sugar control, and lower blood pressure.
3.Improve sleep quality
Benefits of taking a warm bath when you are sleep deprived. According to research, taking a warm bath 90 minutes before bedtime makes you fall asleep faster. Research also shows that the benefits of a warm bath can improve sleep quality.
This happens because the core body temperature will increase when soaking or soaked in warm water.
Then, when you get out of the bathroom, your body temperature will give a signal that your body is ready to sleep. This can make your sleep quality better, and of course, sleep faster, a way that can be applied when staying up late or suffering from insomnia.
4.Burn calories
Hot showers have been shown to burn calories. In a study of 10 men who took warm baths and baths showed that the respondents burned 126 calories per hour. This amount is usually only reached when walking about 25-30 minutes.
In the same study, there was a conclusion that the benefits of a warm bath can also avoid spikes in blood sugar after eating.
5.Improve brain health
Bathing with warm water has been shown to stimulate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is a protein that has many functions for the brain, such as:
- Improve the quality of survival of nerve cells.
- Accelerates the growth, maturation, and maintenance of nerve cells.
- Improve the brain's ability to learn and remember.
6.Improve heart health
The benefits of a warm bath, including the benefits of a warm bath in the morning, further improve heart health.
A 2014 report showed that warm water can improve blood circulation in people with heart failure. Because, blood vessels will dilate when exposed to high temperatures
Then, in a 2012 study, warm water was also shown to relieve stiffness in blood vessels. The study showed that participants who put part of their feet in hot water for half an hour, were able to relieve stiff blood vessels.
7.Relieves headaches
The next benefit of a warm bath is to relieve headaches. Generally, headaches occur when the blood vessels in the head are narrowed. With a warm bath, the blood vessels in the head will 'loosen up' and release from the pressure, so that the headache can be relieved.
When is the best time to take a warm bath
As already explained, the benefits of a warm bath can improve the quality and duration of your sleep. However, when is the best time to take a warm bath, so that you can feel the benefits?
To find the best time to take a warm bath, researchers looked for the answer in more than 5,000 studies. As a result, the best time to take a warm shower is at night, 1-2 hours before bed.
Even so, keep in mind that you are advised not to linger when taking a warm shower. Just 10 minutes, to be able to help improve the quality of sleep
bad effects of hot showers
In essence, you should not use water that is too hot, or even cold. This can actually not have a positive impact on the body. But if done too often, here are the effects of a warm bath that you need to know.
1. Skin becomes damaged
A warm bath has a calming effect on the body. However, when it is done too often, the skin will look drier, because hot water interferes with the function of the oil glands in the skin which function as natural moisturizers.
2. Dry and cracked skin
While it's comfortable and soothing, your skin can become dry if you take a long shower in hot water. This is only seen some time after finishing bathing. Why so? Hot water can interfere with the function of the oil glands in the skin. These glands function to moisturize the skin. When glandular function is disturbed, the skin becomes dry and looks cracked.
3.Blood pressure drops suddenly
As you already know, blood vessels can dilate due to hot temperatures. This causes an increasingly heavy blood flow. However, when the temperature is too high and the duration is too long, the blood vessels throughout the body will experience increasingly severe dilation.
This will cause a drop in blood pressure. To overcome this, the heart will pump faster and harder. For those of you who are experiencing low blood pressure, be careful because you may experience dizziness and loss of consciousness.
If the dilation of blood vessels occurs in the head, you may become very dizzy, lose your balance, and even lose consciousness (fainting). Falling in the bathroom is certainly something to be feared because there is a risk of hitting the floor, walls, bathtub, and toilet
4. Harm Fetal Health
It's not a problem if occasionally pregnant women want to take a warm bath. However, you should not use too high temperature water, because it can cause birth defects in the baby. This can happen when pregnant women are constantly exposed to hot water when the pregnancy is 4-6 weeks. Having spinal and brain abnormalities in babies is one of the effects of a warm bath. To prevent this, 10 minutes is the maximum limit for pregnant women to take a bath with warm water.
It is recommended to use cold water or water with room temperature for bathing in the morning, because it will make you excited to start activities in the morning. Meanwhile, at night, it's okay to take a shower once in a while when the body feels tired, because warm water can relieve stress and make the body more relaxed.