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The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

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Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#21

Post by OJFord »

acqq wrote: post #18
blowski wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds spurious to me. I imagine people that take regular cold showers are also more likely to push themselves at work. To make this really interesting, you'd need to have a blind control group of people who are paid to have cold showers, and see whether their absence rates go down when they start.

My bigger problem is too short time span of the experiment: “The intervention period was 30 consecutive days from January 1st-30th 2015. During the following 60 days January 31st-March 31st 2015 participants of all three intervention groups were instructed to shower as preferred.”

And the time of year - I think absence (for any reason) is lower in January anyway as a lot of people have just come back from a week or two off.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#22

Post by exdsq »

bsaul wrote: post #5

i wonder if there are studies about hot bath. Onsen are extremely popular in japan, and i'm absolutely certain the relaxation you get from hot water is beneficial to health as well

I recently read that a Finnish sauna practically counts as exercise for the cardiovascular system, I assume onsen have a similar benefit.

I'm sure I read somewhere that cold showers can be dangerous for people with per-existing heart conditions too.

I can't cite either right now but they should be easy to find with a Google search.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#23

Post by Clomez »

jph wrote: post #3

https://hbr.org/2018/03/cold-showers-lead-to-fewer-sick-days The link is an interview with the study author, and excerpts are below. This is the first high-level evidence showing that cold showers can benefit your health. People who took them for at least 30 seconds for one month called in sick 29% less than our control group — and 54% less if they also engaged in regular physical exercise. Participants who took the…

This seems almost more dangerous, so people who took cold showers feel just good engouth to become vector for more infections? that's pretty crazy and i would argue the overall effect is then very very negative.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#24

Post by gwd »

joncrane wrote: post #13
lbj wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't sound healthy at all. If the only difference is that they went to work sick, then I see little benefit. Except to the disease of course, it get spread around more effectively.

The takeaway I get is that it increases perseverance. So basically, "doing something physically unpleasant every day increases ability to push through/withstand other physically unpleasant events" is my big takeaway. Seems pretty straightforward. Not necessarily novel, especially when you add in the exercise portion. I think there's some value to pushing yourself harder than the minimum to be comfortable and survive.…

> The takeaway I get is that it increases perseverance. So basically, "doing something physically unpleasant every day increases ability to push through/withstand other physically unpleasant events" is my big takeaway.

Yeah, that's the hypothesis I need to see falsified before I start taking cold showers. I reckon my 'perserverance' muscles get enough of a workout from fasting.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#25

Post by s5ma6n »

For me, one of the important elements in the results is the reduction in influenza with 60 and 90 sec. cold shower group. On the other hand seeing this adverse effect also made me nervous:

"One participant in the 90 seconds intervention group died unexpectedly of occult chronic pulmonary embolism at 56 days follow-up."

I know it is not because of the trial but it is unfortunate.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#26

Post by eequah9L »

michalu wrote: post #17

I've been taking cold showers exclusively for 11 years now. It doesn't get much easier but you'll get addicted to the great feeling after. It's similar to running or exercise, it sucks to do but you do it anyway because the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. The trick for me was to never use warm shower again and never compromise ... only coldest water available counts. First thing in the morning. It mak…

I was doing this for several months. I remember the biggest drawback was that cold water does not dissolve soap and shampoo as well as warm does, so it takes more effort to wash yourself well.

I stopped because I got sick, and never got the habit back.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#27

Post by folli »

michalu wrote: post #17

I've been taking cold showers exclusively for 11 years now. It doesn't get much easier but you'll get addicted to the great feeling after. It's similar to running or exercise, it sucks to do but you do it anyway because the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. The trick for me was to never use warm shower again and never compromise ... only coldest water available counts. First thing in the morning. It mak…

What's a James Bond shower?

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#28

Post by seren »

folli wrote: post #27
michalu wrote: post #17

I've been taking cold showers exclusively for 11 years now. It doesn't get much easier but you'll get addicted to the great feeling after. It's similar to running or exercise, it sucks to do but you do it anyway because the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. The trick for me was to never use warm shower again and never compromise ... only coldest water available counts. First thing in the morning. It mak…

What's a James Bond shower?

It is also called Scottish shower : start the shower with warm water, and finish with cold water

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#29

Post by viceroyalbean »

joncrane wrote: post #13
lbj wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doesn't sound healthy at all. If the only difference is that they went to work sick, then I see little benefit. Except to the disease of course, it get spread around more effectively.

The takeaway I get is that it increases perseverance. So basically, "doing something physically unpleasant every day increases ability to push through/withstand other physically unpleasant events" is my big takeaway. Seems pretty straightforward. Not necessarily novel, especially when you add in the exercise portion. I think there's some value to pushing yourself harder than the minimum to be comfortable and survive.…

There are some parallels to Stoic philosophy there. Ancient stoics would exercise regularly but state the health effect as a secondary benefit, the primary benefit being the virtuous exercise of discipline.

Re: The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work (2016)

#30

Post by amelius »

michalu wrote: post #17

I've been taking cold showers exclusively for 11 years now. It doesn't get much easier but you'll get addicted to the great feeling after. It's similar to running or exercise, it sucks to do but you do it anyway because the benefits far outweigh the temporary discomfort. The trick for me was to never use warm shower again and never compromise ... only coldest water available counts. First thing in the morning. It mak…

How do you deal with summers when the water temperature goes up? Do you notice that the benefits are less then?
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