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Journalism of Courage
We all crave that relaxing hot shower after an intense workout. Muscles are sore, sweat is dripping and the idea of steaming water feels like the ultimate reward. But here is what most people don’t realize. At that very moment, your body is in a delicate state of recovery.
When you exercise, your body generates heat and releases oxidative stress. Oxidation happens and lactic acid is released. To regulate the release, one needs to cool down, because cooling down constricts your muscles, calming and cooling your nervous system. Your heart beats faster, your blood vessels are already wide open, and your blood pressure is adjusting. That is why it is recommended to perform a cool-down workout so that all your parameters come back to their resting state and prevent injuries.
Jumping straight into a hot shower adds another dilating effect on your vessels. For some people, that sudden drop in blood pressure can mean dizziness, light-headedness or even fainting.
That is why experts recommend a short transition window of five to 10 minutes before you step into the shower. Use that time to:
• Walk slowly or stretch to stabilise your circulation.
• Hydrate to replace fluids lost through sweat.
• Let your body temperature naturally start to come down.
Workout recoveries have been recommended with lukewarm showers to begin with and to cold showers later. No kind of extreme shock is to be given to the body immediately. Nothing hot immediately, nor cold immediately. It has to start with lukewarm and go up to a normal cold shower in your time.
Cold plunges have been found to prevent the muscular breakdown that frequently results in extended tiredness and may speed up recovery. Brain activity relaxes with cold showers; your analytical mind comes to rest mode. A cold shower after working out can elevate mood, alertness and focus by causing the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine. Additionally, it improves mental resilience and lessens stress, which may help you cope better with life’s other challenges. Regular cold showers may marginally strengthen the immunological response, according to some research, gradually raising white blood cell levels.
Think of it this way. Your workout does not end when you drop the weights or finish your run. It ends when your body is safely back in balance. The shower you choose is part of that recovery. So next time you finish exercising, skip the immediate hot water reward. Give your body 10 minutes, opt for the cold shower and let recovery work with you, not against you.
(Dr Mehta is holistic health expert)
