Bathing has very extensive and lengthy history. We submerge ourselves in water for personal cleanliness, recreation, and health, whether in a bathing container or a natural body of water. There is nothing more delightful than swimming in the water on a sunny day or taking a fragrant hot bath in the winter.
Hydrotherapy has been utilized for hundreds of years. Both hot and cold water have positive benefits on the human body. Hot springs are a natural source of boiling water, and many countries, such as New Zealand and Iceland, have naturally occurring hot pools that people can use to benefit from the mineral-rich waters. Similarly, cryotherapy or ice baths can ease muscle strain, and many sportsmen, notably runners, immerse themselves in freezing water to counterbalance the damage or strain caused by activity.
Regardless of water temperature, having a bath has been scientifically established to promote optimal mental and physical wellness.
Advantages of Taking a Hot Bath
1. Taking a Hot Bath May Increase Your Intelligence
In a study of middle-aged women with fibromyalgia, an intriguing advantage of hot baths was discovered: in addition to lowering pain, the warm water appeared to improve cognitive performance, probably because heat causes blood vessels to expand and increases blood flow to the brain. Other research has shown that middle-aged men who regularly used saunas had a decreased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who did not.
2. A Good Soak May Benefit Your Heart
In addition to relaxing your blood vessels, a warm bath also dilates them, making it simpler for blood to flow through them. This transient drop in blood pressure is comparable to the effects of exercise and may provide comparable cardiovascular benefits. A 20-year study of more than 30,000 people in Japan, where the benefits of hot baths have been recognized for centuries, revealed that those who bathed daily (or nearly daily) were 28 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and 26 percent less likely to have a stroke than those who took baths less than twice a week, according to a study published in the journal Heart.
3. Hot Baths Might Help Combat Depression
Intriguingly, the same brain networks that regulate body temperature are also linked in depression. There is some evidence that increasing core body temperature, such as by bathing in a hot tub, may result in brain changes that enhance mood-regulating chemicals such as serotonin. Some study suggests that the effects of hot baths may be greater than those of regular exercise in this regard.
In a study of 45 individuals with depression, those who took two 20-minute baths per week (at a temperature of approximately 104 degrees Fahrenheit) had lower scores on a commonly used depression scale than those who exercised for 45 to 50 minutes twice per week, according to research published in BMC Psychiatry. Even though this is a tiny study and additional research is likely need to validate this relationship, the findings are nevertheless notable.
4. Soothes Aches in the Muscles and Joints
You could feel the calming effects of the spa with the very first soak. If you joined a gym and enduring the cold, and your body has been unusually sore recently your muscles will fell relaxed in a way that foam rolling and massage alone had not. When your knees have also acquired a tendency to become achy after even brief periods of sitting there will be a reduction in creaks and stiffness throughout the course of the week.
A hot bath relieves muscle tension and relaxes spasms. Bathing in warm water improves circulation, which in turn helps to replenish the muscles’ supply of oxygen and nutrients. This reduces muscle tension, alleviates discomfort, and enhances connective tissue suppleness.
5. Alleviates Cold Symptoms and Boosts Breathing
If you feel perpetually congested due to seasonal allergies and bouts with the usual cold. Aided by fragrant oils, the steamy bath was a wonderful method to clear nasal passages. Submerging yourself to the chest in water can improve your oxygen intake. Bathing also stimulates the blood vessels in your nose and face, which can clear mucus blockages and alleviate flu and cold symptoms.
6. They Burn Calories
A hot bath may not be as effective as water aerobics or active hydrotherapy, but a good sweat caused by a hot bath can burn as many calories as walking.
7. Baths Can Alleviate Irritated Skin
Warm baths with some essential oils, such as coconut, olive, or lavender, as well as oatmeal, can better moisturize and treat dry or irritated skin than scorching baths. In addition, aromatherapy is excellent for regulating mood and relieving stress.
8. Baths Help People Fall Asleep More Quickly and Sleep More Soundly
We are all aware of how calming a hot bath can be, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that it can also aid in sleep. Researchers call it “passive body heating,” and it works because our body temperature and sleep are interconnected processes. Changes in temperature may, among other things, stimulate sleep-inducing regions of the brain. In a small study conducted in France, women who soaked in warm baths for 90 minutes before to bedtime experienced significant increases in drowsiness at bedtime, slow-wave sleep, and stage 4 deep sleep. After having a bath, participants in another trial fell asleep more quickly. Just hold off on sleep until after you have exited the bath.
9. Baths Can Aid with Wound Healing
Infected sores and wounds can be treated with baths. Your physician may suggest applying a warm saltwater solution to the affected region to promote healing. However, certain wounds should be kept dry, so consult your physician prior to dipping.
10. Taking a Bath Can Alleviate Cold and Flu Symptoms
The steam from a hot bath does wonders for congested noses and coughs. Inflammation in the nasal passages causes congestion, and steam stimulates blood flow in the face and nose, so dislodging any mucus obstruction. Additionally, a warm bath might enhance your immune system’s ability to combat viruses.
Conclusion
People have soaked in hot springs and other warm pools of water for ages just because it feels nice, but only recently has study began to identify a number of actual health benefits associated with doing so. According to a mini-review published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, the majority of the benefits of hot baths are attributable to thermotherapy, also known as passive heating, which temporarily raises the body’s core temperature and may have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, glycemic control, and chronic low-grade inflammation.