Is Cold Shower Better Than Warm Shower For Cardiovascular Health?

Posted on Sat, 6 Apr 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 6 Apr 2013 Answered on

Sat, 4 May 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : hi how are you? are cold showers better than warm showers for cardiovascular health? thanks bye

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (3 hours later)

Hi friend,
Welcome to Health Care Magic

Both are bad / water at body temperature is the best...

Hot water dilates the blood vessels - more intra-vascular volume leading to more work for the heart / heart rate or the stroke volume (amount pumped per beat) will increase.

Cold water causes constriction of the blood vessels - increases the resistance to pumping (work load is increased)...
Abrupt exposure of the face to cold can stimulate the Vagus nerve - leading to slowing of the heart rate...

So, shower with water at body temperature is the best...

Take care
Wishing speedy recovery
God bless
Good luck

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (20 hours later)

so lukem water is best? not warm and not cold? in the middle ey? thanks bye
is showering twice a day better than once a day? I've heard that I would benefit more from showering or bathing twice a day rather than once. is this true? thanks bye

Answered by Dr. Anantharamakrishnan (2 hours later)

If there is a lot of exposure to dust / if there is too much sweating as in physical labour in hot environment - it is better to bathe twice.
Otherwise, it does not make much physical or physiological difference - of course, psychological attitudes and habits differ in individulals...

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar