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The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#51

Post by jimmydddd »

nazgulnarsil wrote: post #41
sytelus wrote: post #30

TLDR; 3000 participants study that asked them to do cold showers for 30-90 seconds each day for 1 month. Main difference shown was ~30% reduction in sick days they took. On a side note, has anyone here tried wim hof method?

inducing hypoxia will make you euphoric but is generally a bad idea for much the same reason that huffing paint thinner is a bad idea.

Cautionary note. Don't practice Wim Hof method while in a pool or tub. Tim Ferriss opens a podcast on hof with a warning about a friend who passed out practicing hof method while in a pool and almost drowned.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#52

Post by k4ch0w »

sytelus wrote: post #30

TLDR; 3000 participants study that asked them to do cold showers for 30-90 seconds each day for 1 month. Main difference shown was ~30% reduction in sick days they took. On a side note, has anyone here tried wim hof method?

I actually went and met Wim. I took one of his seminars. He had us all go outside into a pool of ice together for about ~1 minute with all of us chanting who let the dogs out while we froze. I walked out completely red because it was the coldest thing I'd ever done. At that point I was doing cold showers for about a year and a half.

I am a very physical person and his method was the first one to put my mind into a meditative state. You actually feel it in your body and shock it which silences your regular thoughts. You only focus on your breathing and how you feel in that moment. It gives me a really quick reprieve when working on a difficult problem.

You have people that take his method to extremes though, I remember one guy at the seminar literally pissed himself from holding in too long. It can make it all seem like pseudoscience. I can confirm that it has a very physical effect on my body and helps me meditate a lot easier.

A side effect of the ice training is that I sweat in really cold weather. I live in Seattle and people look at me funny cause I'm rocking a t-shirt and shorts but if I wear a jacket I'm boiling.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#53

Post by ellyagg »

thesmallestcat wrote: post #38
zzxxkk123 wrote: post #6

I used to do this every morning... just take a normal hot shower, then at the end crank it full cold and endure until normalized. It's a free high, great way to start a day. I presumed endorphins are being released. Now I prefer to run a bunch of miles and immediately jump into the (cold) ocean while still all hot and amped up from the run. The water doesn't even seem cold, it's great. Normally people wear wet-suits…

Could that induce a heart attack? Like drinking a glass of ice water after mowing the lawn in hot weather.

Yep. It's a stressor, which is the point. Strenuous exercise is also a well-known cause of heart attacks, but you should definitely strenuously exercise if at all possible.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#55

Post by chewz »

I loved cold showers since beeing teenager. Always liked cold. Not used hot water sometimes for weeks in winter. In December me and friends regularly swim in Baltic Sea when it’s 0C outside (hot sauna and generous servings of vodka surely help).

But I have read that hot shower in morning significantly lowers cortisol levels so I start the day with hot shower now, when available.

Also since a few years I am living in SE Asia and hot showers taken few times a day open pores in skin and allow it breath better in this climate.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#57

Post by SilasX »

abalone wrote: post #50
slap_shot wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it possible that that people who are more willing to tolerate pain and uncomfortable situations are less likely to take sicks days, even when sick? I've trie the wim hof method. It's a pretty incredible feeling but I'm afraid of collapsing and knocking myself out.

No because this was not a self-selected group. It was people with no regular history of cold showering. My money’s on placebo effect here.

Right but people would be excluded from the study if they found the cold showers too grueling and wanted out.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#58

Post by cyberferret »

We did this in our entire house for about 6 months once when our water heater broke and we couldn't afford to get it fixed quickly.

UPSIDES: We nearly halved our water bill as all of us (kids and parents) took far shorter showers because it was so cold. This also meant we had to clean the shower much less often. I would also be more awake and alert in the morning after a cold rinse.

DOWNSIDES: I noticed I was getting more headaches and stiff necks, then I realised that the hot showers were helping me to de-tension and relax my shoulder and neck muscles which have become tight due to my long work hours writing code at a keyboard.

Didn't notice any up or down occurrences of sickness in the rest of the family. Overall, I am glad we have hot water back now. At least I have a choice which way to go.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#59

Post by dwg »

all_blue_chucks wrote: post #44

People who take cold showers are just as sick, but call off work less? Maybe it's because the misery from the cold water masks the misery from the illness?

As someone who has been using cold water at the end of my showers for a while now, it doesn't feel miserable at all. It's rather refreshing.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial

#60

Post by dwg »

slap_shot wrote: post #42
sytelus wrote: post #30

TLDR; 3000 participants study that asked them to do cold showers for 30-90 seconds each day for 1 month. Main difference shown was ~30% reduction in sick days they took. On a side note, has anyone here tried wim hof method?

Is it possible that that people who are more willing to tolerate pain and uncomfortable situations are less likely to take sicks days, even when sick? I've trie the wim hof method. It's a pretty incredible feeling but I'm afraid of collapsing and knocking myself out.

I've been using cold water at the end of my showers for a while now and it doesn't feel painful or even uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. So, your point may follow but not exactly in the way stated.
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