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When time warms up, many of us turn to a good cold shower to help refresh. But the feeling of relief, in fact, may not be helping the body cool.
The ideal temperature of our body is around 37°C. This temperature ensures that body systems work properly. But when the body’s core warms up too, the temperature regulatory center begins to send nerve signs to the blood vessels and muscles on the skin or near it-indicating that they should activate the cooler mechanisms.
If the core of the body remains too hot for a long time (about 39-40 ° C), they can register damage to organs. Paara ensures that the temperature remains ideal, the body uses various techniques to cool.
For example, the body releases heat to the environment through electromagnetic radiation (thermal). About 60% of body heat is lost in this way. THE perspiration It is another mechanism used by the body. Approximately 22% of body heat is lost like this.
However, when the air temperature around us exceeds the body temperature, perspiration becomes the main mechanism to reduce the temperature of the nucleus. Any residual body heat is then dissipated through a convection combination to the air or liquid with which the body may be in contact and conduction to the solid objects with which the body is in contact.
To support these mechanisms, blood vessels change the diameter. The closest to the skin is expanded (widen) to allow more blood to pass and thus approach the relatively cooler surface of the skin.
The body then works to circulate the blood so that the internal heat is transferred to the periphery and can be dissipated. Similarly, skin hair remains flat to allow air to the body to cool and be replaced, helping to dissipate the heat.
Cold shower?
Of course, when time is very hot, we get the idea that these mechanisms are not enough.
Although diving in a bath or cold shower right after being exposed to the heat may seem pleasant to the skin, it is not actually doing what is necessary to reduce the temperature of the body’s core – and It can even be risky For some people.
When exposed to cold, blood vessels close to the skin contract-reducing blood flow in these zones. Therefore, in the context of cooling the body, Entering a cold shower makes the opposite of what is neededbecause less blood flows to the surface of the skin. This causes the heat to stay inside and around the organs rather than eliminated.
Basically, We are fooling the bodygiving you the idea that you do not need to cool, but to keep heat.
And, depending on how cold water is, sudden exposure can even trigger dangerous consequences For some people.
Exposure to water at 15 ° C can trigger the response from shock by the cold. This makes blood vessels on the skin (those in contact with cold water) contract quickly. This increases blood pressure, as the heart is pumping against greater resistance.
This response can be particularly dangerous in people with underlying heart disease, such as coronary disease. The cold shock response can also cause arrhythmia and even death when it goes from a very hot environment for cold water.
Fortunately, these events are rare – and they will probably not happen if you are just taking a shower or cold bath at home. But for this reason, it may be better to avoid a dive in ice water or a bath of ice on a hot day.
Taking a hot shower is not a good idea on a hot day. Although sometimes it is said that a hot shower helps the body cool faster, unfortunately this is not true. The warmer water than the body will transfer energy in the form of heat to the body. This again prevents the body from freeing from heat – potentially increasing the temperature of the nucleus.
On a hot day, the ideal will be a bath or warm shower or top-the evidence suggests that 26-27 ° C are more effective. This helps bring blood to the surface to cool, without being cold to the point of making the body think that it needs to keep the heat.
Another reason to avoid cold shower on a hot day is that you may not help you get clean. When we have warmth, we sweat-and this perspiration mixes with sebum (another substance of the skin) and the bacteria present on the skin, which gives rise to body odor. Cold water is known to be less effective in the removal and degradation of skin waste compared to warm water, which means that body odor may persist.
Cold water also causes the skin to contract, which could potentially imprison the dirt in the pores and can lead to the appearance of Black points, white points and acne. Already warm or tapid water can help dissolve and release the material in the pores.
By planning your escape and heat recovery, a warm or fresh shower or bath instead of a cold shower, it is a safer and more effective choice.
Similarly, if you feel the need to cool even more, do it gradually so as not to cause a shock to the automatic body temperature regulation system. Gradually reduce the water temperature if you want to take a cooler shower, or dive one member at a time can help in this process.
