Is it better to take a cold or hot bath in the summer for your health?

I have a habit of taking hot baths all year round, even in the summer. Doctor, is hot or cold baths better for your health? Thank you! (Nguyen Viet Nga - Ha Dong, Hanoi )

Doctor Nguyen Huy Hoang, Vietnam - Russia High Pressure Oxygen Center, Ministry of National Defense (Hanoi), advises:

When bathing, using cold or hot water depends on each person's habits. Each type of water has a certain effect on the body.

Cold water stimulates the lymphatic vessels, the immune system, increases the production of lymphocytes to fight bacterial infections, and increases immunity. Cold water is good for the heart and lungs, tightens the skin, and helps increase metabolism. When you shower with cold water, your skin feels more beautiful.

However, people with chronic diseases, the elderly, and people with pneumonia need to be careful when bathing in cold water. These people are susceptible to heat shock, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Taking a warm bath relaxes your muscles after a day of work, helps you feel relaxed, refreshed, and reduces pain symptoms. However, taking a hot bath for a long time causes dry and wrinkled skin. Hot water also dilates capillaries and increases peripheral circulation.

Many people think that bathing in cold water is cool in the summer. However, bathing in hot water cools you down better than cold water. When you bathe in cold water, you feel cool on the skin but the capillaries under the skin contract, the heat in the body cannot escape. Meanwhile, bathing in warm water causes the capillaries to dilate, the pores open, helping you cool down well, reducing body temperature.

Note, winter or summer you should not bathe after 9pm to prevent some negative effects on health. Do not bathe for too long as it will cause the body to lose heat. People with allergies should not bathe for too long or in water that is too hot because it will increase dry skin and itching. You should use moisturizer after bathing.

It is best to take a cold shower in the morning and a warm shower in the evening. If you go to a cold or hot pool, you must let your body get used to the water temperature. Avoid sudden exposure to cold or hot water.

You need to perform the steps in order: wash your face, then shower from top to bottom and finally wash your hair. Performing these steps correctly will improve the body's metabolism, promote blood circulation and dilate pores.