Taking a long, hot bath is one of the many ways to relax after a long day at work. However, could the bath increase the length of a person’s life as well as clean the dirt and sweat from their bodies?
According to , it could. This is because, says Dr Adolph Hutter, “the higher temperatures in a warm tub…cause your blood vessels to dilate, which lowers blood pressure”. Furthermore, in a hot tub “the volume of blood in your heart pumps will also rise…as a result of the pressure of the water on the body, which increases the heart’s workload” continues Dr Hutter. What does this mean from a statistical standpoint?
In a study conducted in Japan on more than 30,000 people, they found, “Compared to people who showered less than twice a week, those who showered almost every day had a 28 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.”
In addition, the study also found that those who showered every day had a “26 percent lower risk of stroke after researchers adjusted the results for other factors that affect heart health, such as diet, exercise and smoking habits.”
It was also discovered that the temperature of the bath did not affect the findings.
The results of the study are published in the journal Heart.
Several studies link sauna use four to seven times a week to lower blood pressure and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Although saunas and baths have health benefits, they are not safe for everyone.
Harvard University recommends that it is not safe for people with “unstable chest pain, poor blood pressure control, or other serious heart problems.”
They also recommended that people in their 70s or older who have low blood pressure should take extra care.
However, if it is safe to do so, baths can have a positive impact on a person’s risk of stroke.