People often ask why you shouldn't bathe when you're sick. Let's figure out how water procedures affect our body, when you can and should wash, and when you have to refuse to take a bath.
General information
There is an opinion that at the moment when the body is attacked by viruses, water treatments weaken the immune system. Is this true and why you can not wash when you are sick? There are some rules and contraindications for taking a bath during illness. Doctors recommend treating the procedure responsibly, then it will not only not hurt, but also improve your well-being.
The fact is that a warm bath usually has a beneficial effect on the body. Sea s alt, various medicinal herbs and essential oils are added to such healing baths. Warm water can relieve fatigue, muscle pain. It cleanses pores and refreshes.
Then why can't you shower when you're sick? With colds and flu, many people try to avoid water procedures until they are fully recovered, as they are afraid of worsening the condition. How justified is this? Let's take it all in order.
Medics' opinion
Many doctors are surprised when they hear this myth and cannot understand why you shouldn't wash when you have a cold or the flu. Moreover, modern experts say that it is simply necessary to wash during illness. However, there are contraindications and recommendations for water procedures, which we will discuss below.
Colds can last for weeks, and avoiding a bath in this case is simply unforgivable. The fact is that during an illness a person often and profusely sweats, takes diaphoretics. Sweat can clog pores, making it difficult for your skin to breathe.
Therefore, taking a bath during illness is necessary, it is beneficial. However, doctors do not recommend washing in hot water. However, even he althy people are not advised to take too hot baths. If the patient feels sticky, dirty, you can take a shower. Bathing in hot water is only prohibited if the person has a high fever.
Rules for taking water procedures during illness
As mentioned above, you can take a shower or bath when you are sick. But do not forget that the body is actively fighting viruses and bacteria. But some patients still note a slight deterioration in well-being after washing. So that the hygiene procedure does not delay recovery, you need to follow some rules.
Here is a list of recommendations to follow when you are sick:
1. In no case should you take a bath if you have taken alcohol shortly before. People who have a cold often drink warm alcoholic drinks, such as grog or mulled wine. They really help to warm up and sweat, but alcohol is not the best way out during an illness. Such a “treatment” must be abandoned in favor of folk remedies and medicines from a pharmacy. During an illness, the liver is heavily loaded, and it does not need extra work. If you still decide to drink a glass of hot mulled wine, then do not drink it either before or during your bath.
2. Do not forget that you can not wash at a temperature, especially in hot water. While taking a hot bath, the heat will increase even more, which will aggravate the disease. The water temperature during swimming should be between 34-37 degrees.
3. Many people are worried about how much you can not wash during illness. However, people rarely think that the time for taking water procedures should be limited. This is due to the high humidity in the bathroom. Normally, the humidity in the room should be kept at the level of 40-60%. Lower values (and this often happens during the heating season) provoke the development of a cold.
High humidity also negatively affects the patient's condition. It helps to increase the amount of mucus in the nasopharynx and throat, which means that cough and runny nose become aggravated and cause inconvenience to the patient. Therefore, the time spent in the bathroom should be limited. To reduce humidity, you can open the door a little.
4. Take a bath during illness, preferably in the evening. After water procedures, you need to dry yourself welltowel, put on warm pajamas, socks and go to bed. To prevent hypothermia, you can drink a hot drink, such as herbal tea with honey.
Essential oil baths
A bath can have a healing effect on the body and fight off colds. You can buy essential oils that have an antiviral effect. These are oils of bergamot, tea tree, manuka, Ravensara, eucalyptus, lavender. They boost immunity and help fight colds early.
Herbal baths
Herbal bath with decoctions of chamomile, mint, sage, wormwood or birch leaves will help alleviate the patient's condition. The steam coming from the water will serve as an inhalation. A steep broth is added to water at a temperature of 30 degrees. Gradually, the temperature is raised to 37 degrees. Foot baths and steam baths provide relief.
To whom baths are contraindicated
There are times when bathing should be avoided. Do not take it with oils and herbs to which you are allergic. An obstacle to taking baths is the presence of such chronic diseases as circulatory disorders in the brain, varicose veins, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension. This procedure is prohibited if the patient has a high temperature or feels unwell.
Bathing with chickenpox
Some people find taking a bath while having chickenpox helps with itching. At the same time, there is an opinion thatchickenpox cannot be washed. Which of these is true? Most people believe that washing after chickenpox is possible only when the last crusts fall off.
But from doctors you can hear a different opinion. Doctors are convinced that warm water relieves itching, which can greatly torment the patient. But like with a cold, with chickenpox, you can start washing only after the temperature subsides. You can take a bath or shower, at the choice of the patient.
It is useful to add a decoction of string, chamomile or calendula to the water. They will disinfect the skin and will contribute to the speedy healing and drying of the crusts. But it is forbidden to use soap and a washcloth, as the skin is already irritated.
Take a bath for a short time, but you can do this several times a day. Do not rub with a towel, otherwise you can tear off the bubbles. It is best to lightly blot the skin or let it dry naturally.
No need to beware of water procedures during colds, flu, chickenpox. So that they do not harm, you must follow some rules. A good bath will only relieve the symptoms of the disease and promote a speedy recovery.
