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

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

71–80 of 163 posts

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

#71

In general I am very concerned about what is considered cold. Is this just unheated? Depending on the time of year the relative temperature of unheated has a broad range where I live. I’d be a lot more comfortable if this set a tight bound on the water temp. If it did and I missed it sorry.

10 degrees C was used as "cold" in this study, as per the article.

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

#72

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…

I've been taking cold showers for 3-4 months, but recently had to quit because I hurt my neck so badly in the shower.

Can you elaborate this? Did the cold water hurt your neck? Or did you hurt neck due to a related/unrelated accident in the shower?

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

#74
post #52
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 me…

>> You actually feel it in your body and shock it which silences your regular thoughts.

I wonder if his methods would help people with depression.

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

#75
post #55

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…

Sauna combined with alcohol sounds like recipe for disaster.

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

#76
post #75
post #55

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…

Sauna combined with alcohol sounds like recipe for disaster.

No, it is quite healthy actually. In right doses of course. Jumping into ice cold water after 15 minutes in 70+C sauna, a shot of vodka, some hot tea. Makes you feel great and alive in winter.

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

#77
post #65
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 me…

Seattleite here. I am skeptical people look at you funny, at least more than every once in a while. Plenty of people dress that way in inclement weather.

You may be right and it's just how I perceive myself in the world. :-p

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

#78
post #52
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 me…

but if I wear a jacket I'm boiling.

Funny.

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

#79
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

[deleted]

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

#80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

40F with or without clothes? 4-6 hours without clothes and Im pretty sure you're looking at fairly severe hypothermia.

I am not sure how much clothes would help in preventing hypothermia.

It's occasionally getting to -20-25 C during winters where I live, but people go around in their daily routines (only exception is children that do not have to go to school if it's below -20 C). I'm pretty sure if not the clothes, there would be a hell lots of frozen bodies around every winter.
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