Can You Take A Bath When You Have A Cold?

It turns out that taking a bath with a cold is a very useful procedure. However, some precautions must be taken here.

It turns out that taking a bath with a cold is a very useful procedure. However, some precautions must be taken here.

As you know, baths have a beneficial effect on the body, especially if sea salt, herbs, essential oils and other medicinal components are added to the water. The bath relieves fatigue, muscle pain, and also cleans the pores of the skin from impurities. But is it possible to take a bath with a cold? Usually, during an illness, we try to avoid water procedures until the moment of complete recovery, so as not to worsen the cold or flu. Is this approach justified? Let's figure everything out in order.

Let's get rid of stereotypes!

Some doctors are surprised: "Where did the myth come from that you can't bathe or take a bath during a cold?" Other specialists have gone even further and claim that in case of illness, a bath is not only possible, but also necessary. True, there are a number of peculiarities here, which will be discussed further.

Other times, colds last for weeks, and avoiding bathing in this case is simply unforgivable. Moreover, when a person has a cold, he usually sweats a lot (in particular, when taking diaphoretic agents). Sweat clogs the pores and prevents the skin from breathing normally. Therefore, bathing and taking baths will benefit the patient. The only thing is that doctors do not recommend taking hot baths (they are also undesirable for healthy people), especially if you have a high temperature.

Follow the rules

As you already understood, doctors give the green light to taking baths for a cold. Nevertheless, you need to understand that your body is fighting the disease, and therefore, when taking baths, you need to follow some rules so that the hygienic procedure is not harmed.

Here are the rules you need to remember if you want to take a bath when you have a cold:

• Do not combine the bath with alcohol. Many of us during a cold prefer to drink alcoholic beverages, such as glintein, grog, and others. First of all, we should immediately note that it is better to abandon alcohol treatment in favor of proven folk remedies and pharmaceutical drugs for colds. Well, if you still decide to "skip" a glass of hot mulled wine, then in no case do it in the bath or immediately before taking a bath.
• Do not bathe in hot water. This is especially important if you have an elevated body temperature. Taking a hot bath, it can increase even more, which will increase painful symptoms. The water temperature should be between 34-37 degrees.
• Limit the time you spend in the bathroom. First of all, this is due to high humidity in the bathroom. Normally, the air humidity in the premises should be at the level of 40-65% (unfortunately, it is much lower in the heating season, which contributes to the development of colds). However, high humidity also negatively affects the patient's condition. Due to high humidity in the throat and nasopharynx, mucus production increases, as a result of which cough and runny nose may worsen. Therefore, limit the time you stay in the bathroom, and also keep the door slightly ajar, this will help reduce humidity.
• It is best to take a bath in the evening, and after it you need to lie down in bed, wearing warm socks on your feet. You can also drink a glass of warm milk with honey or herbal tea, such as chamomile, after the bath.

Medicinal herbs for baths

Herbal baths during a cold have a health-improving effect on the body. To do this, you need to add decoctions of medicinal herbs (mint, chamomile, sage, linden and others) to the bath. By taking such a bath, you, in fact, perform inhalation, as you will inhale vapors of medicinal herbs, which will relieve some symptoms of the disease.

To whom baths are contraindicated

It is necessary to refuse to take baths if you have some chronic diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, varicose veins, as well as impaired blood circulation in the brain.

If you are allergic to some medicinal herbs, then in no case do not use them to prepare herbal baths.