Hot Bath- Its benefits
Taking a good soak in a hot bath is one of
these things. Soaking in hot water is more powerful than you might
think. In fact, there are quite a few definite health benefits to be
gained. A good steamy bath has some surprising effects on the human
body. Keep reading to find out all about them.
1. Improving Your Blood Circulation
Dipping the body into hot water to the neck is kind of an exercise for
your blood vessels. This is because water creates physical pressure on
the body which increases the capacity of our heart. In other words, when
we're immersed in water, the heart works faster and stronger. This is
not a massive undertaking, more like a light exercise. A few dips a week
is an excellent workout for your heart.
2. Helping You Fall Asleep
Hot water relaxes the body and better prepares us for falling asleep.
When a tense body enters a warm bath, the hot water increases the body
temperature and relaxes the muscles. Relaxing the muscles not only
soothes us physically, but also mentally, and many of us need that peace
of mind at the end of the day. That said, be attentive to your body -
don't fall asleep in the bath and limit your stay to no more than 20
minutes.
3. Staying in Shape
Over-stretched muscles, small sports
injuries, and even joint pain can be relieved with a nice hot bath,
which is the perfect ending to physical activity.
4. Lowering Your Blood Pressure
A recent study has shown that soaking in a
hot bath can lower your blood pressure. This is a great system for those
with heart conditions who have to watch out for spikes in their blood
pressure. If you do have a heart condition, then first you should
consult your doctor, because a hot bath will also raise the rate of your
heartbeat. If they say it's okay, then it's a great way of bringing
down your blood pressure.
5. Losing Weight
Another study has indicated that people who
suffer from diabetes and soak in a hot tub on a regular basis are able
to reduce their levels of sugar and glucose in the blood. The study
found that soaking in a hot bath for about 20-30 minutes, 6 days a week,
made participants lose almost 2.5 pounds (2 kilos) a month as compared
to the control group.
6. Cleaning the Skin
6. Cleaning the Skin
While it is true that a shower is cleaner
than a bath, a good soak in hot water after a shower can open up the
pores in our skin, and if the water is clean then it can come in and
wash some of the dirt and toxins from our skin. The result is fresher
and cleaner skin.
7. Reducing Headaches
Most types of headaches are caused by the
narrowing of blood vessels in the head. The positive effect of the hot
water on our blood vessels can be used to alleviate the pressure on
those blood vessels and cure our headache.
8. Feeling Better About Yourself
Life is full of stressful events, and a hot
bath can be that shoulder you need to cry on. Take a good soak and try
to relax, as it's known that when we feel better physically, we get more
confident in ourselves, more convinced we are up to the challenges
ahead. A hot tub is a great way to reduce daily anxiety as well. Very
few of us are aware of just how much the body's physical state increases
our levels of perceived anxiety.
9. Helping Your Cough and Flu Symptoms
The steam of a hot bath can dry out the mucus accumulating in our
throat, which is one of the most common reasons for ongoing coughing. In
addition, a hot bath can also alleviate the symptoms of the flu. Taking
a 10-15 minute hot-soak-break can really help you feel better while
your body is getting rid of the disease.
10. Moisturizing Your Skin
We may not like the wrinkled skin we get
after a hot bath, but it actually has a good effect on it. The warm
water leaves the skin moist for longer and prevents it from drying up
and getting those little cracks that often appear when it's dry.
11. Breathing Becomes Easier
Bathing has been found to exert a positive
influence on your oxygen intake and lung capacity. This is because the
combination of warm water and water pressure makes your heart beat
faster, thereby increasing oxygen uptake. The steam from a hot bath will
also help to clear your chest and sinuses.
12. Balancing Your Hormones
Taking a hot bath can balance out your
serotonin levels, which will lead to you becoming happier and feeling
more satisfied with life. Alternatively, if you bathe in cooler water,
you'll be able to balance out other hormones, such as cortisol,
beta-endorphin, and ACTH, which could help deal with fertility issues or
conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome.
13. Boosting Your Brain and Nerve Health
Being submerged in water calms your nervous
system while reducing inflammation and pain. Stress and anxiety levels
also get significantly reduced, which can go a long way towards
improving your mood. The water's temperature and pressure will also
gently relieve the spine of any discomfort or pain, and has been found
to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
14. Protecting Your Bones, Muscles, and Joints
Taking a warm bath will work wonders for
your joints, muscles, and even bones. In fact, the water's warm
temperature helps to relieve the effects of conditions like
osteoarthritis, without causing an exacerbation of symptoms or any other
adverse effects.
15. Improving Your Gastrointestinal Health
A warm bath is perfect for dealing with the
pain caused by anal fissures or hemorrhoids. This is because a bath's
warm temperature causes the anal sphincter to relax, which can help heal
the wounds left after surgery. Warm baths have also been found to aid
digestion and lower blood sugar levels, which is very useful for
diabetic people who find it hard to maintain a healthy weight.
16. Optimizing Your Body Temperature
There isn't a faster or more enjoyable way to optimize your body
temperature than with a relaxing bath. On cold days, a nice hot bath or a
trip to the spa is bound to warm you up from the inside and outside,
and leave you feeling fabulous!
17. Improving Urinary Tract Health
While bathing regularly may increase the risk of contracting a urinary
tract infection (UTI), especially for repeat sufferers, having a warm
bath actually helps the internal urethral sphincter to relax. This
decreases the pain felt after surgery, and can significantly decrease
recovery time.
18. Quickening the Natural Birthing Process
It is well known that immersing women in a warm bath during the first
stages of labor can minimize both pain and stress. This will allow them
to better focus on progressing labor and ultimately giving birth. In
some cultures, new mothers bathe with their newborns in water mixed with
essential oils and herbs to help speed up physical and mental healing.
A FEW IMPORTANT NOTES:
Despite all the advantages, a regular soak in a hot bath is not
recommended for everyone, therefore, make sure that:
* You don't soak for more than 15-20 minutes each time.
* If you have a heart condition, consult with your doctor about taking
hot baths.
* You take something cold to drink with you because we tend to sweat in a
hot bath and can get dehydrated.
* You're not pregnant! Pregnant women are not advised to take hot baths.