People often ask why you can’t wash when you are sick. Let's figure out how water procedures act on 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 procedures weaken the immune system. Is this so and why you can’t wash when you are sick? There are some rules and contraindications for taking a bath during an illness. Doctors recommend taking the procedure responsibly, then it will not only not hurt, but will also improve well-being.
The fact is that a warm bath usually has a beneficial effect on the body. Sea bath salts, various herbs and essential oils are added to these healing baths. Warm water can relieve fatigue, muscle pain. It cleanses the pores and refreshes.
Then why not wash when you are sick? With colds and flu, many try to avoid water procedures until they recover completely, as they fear deterioration. How justified is it? Let's figure it out in order.
The opinion of doctors
Many doctors are surprised when they hear this myth, and they can’t understand why you can’t wash when you have a cold or the flu. Moreover, modern experts argue that washing during illness is simply necessary. However, for water procedures, there are contraindications and recommendations, which we will discuss below.
A cold can last for weeks, and avoiding taking a bath in this case is simply unforgivable. The fact is that during an illness a person often sweats profusely, takes sweatshops. Sweat can clog pores, and this prevents the skin from breathing normally.
Therefore, it is necessary to take a bath during illness, this is beneficial. However, doctors do not recommend washing in hot water. However, too hot baths are not advised to be taken even by healthy people. If the patient feels sticky, dirty, you can take a shower. Bathing in hot water is prohibited only if a person has a high temperature.
Rules for taking water procedures during an illness
As mentioned above, you can take a shower or bath during an illness. But do not forget that the body is actively fighting viruses and bacteria. But some patients still note a slight deterioration in health after washing. So that the hygiene procedure does not delay recovery, you need to follow some rules.
Here is a list of recommendations that must be followed during illness:
1. In no case should you take a bath if you took alcohol shortly before. Often colds drink warm alcoholic beverages, 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 "treatment" should be abandoned in favor of folk remedies and medicines from the pharmacy. The liver during the illness is heavily loaded, and she 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 the bath.
2. Do not forget that you should not wash yourself at temperature, especially in hot water. While taking a hot bath, the heat will increase even more, which will aggravate the disease. The temperature of the water during bathing should be between 34-37 degrees.
3. Many care 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 high humidity in the bathroom. Normally, the humidity in the room should be kept at a level of 40-60%. Lower rates (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 worsen and cause inconvenience to the patient. Therefore, the time spent in the bathroom should be limited. To reduce humidity, you can slightly open the door.
4. Take a bath during illness, preferably in the evening. After water procedures, you need to thoroughly dry yourself with a towel, put on warm pajamas, socks and go to bed. To prevent hypothermia, you can drink a hot drink, such as herbal tea with honey.
Baths with essential oils
A bath can have a healing effect on the body and fight colds. You can buy essential oils that have an antiviral effect. These are oils of bergamot, tea tree, manuka, ravensara, eucalyptus, lavender. They enhance immunity and help fight colds early on.
Herbal baths
An herbal bath with decoctions of chamomile, mint, sage, wormwood or birch leaves will help alleviate the condition of the patient. Steam emanating from 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 and steam baths provide relief.
To whom baths are contraindicated
There are cases when you need to refuse to take a bath. Do not take it with oils and herbs that you are allergic to. An obstacle to taking baths is the presence of such chronic diseases as circulatory disorders in the brain, varicose veins, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension. This procedure is prohibited if the patient has a high fever or poor health.
Swimming with chickenpox
Some people think that taking a bath during chickenpox helps cope with itching. At the same time, there is an opinion that you should not wash yourself with chickenpox. Which of these is true? Most ordinary people believe that washing after chickenpox is possible only when the last crusts disappear.
But from doctors you can hear a different opinion. Doctors are convinced that warm water relieves itching, which can greatly torment the patient. But as with colds, with chickenpox, you can start to wash only after the temperature drops. You can take a bath or shower, at the choice of the patient.
It is useful to add a decoction of a 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, since the skin is already irritated.
Take a bath for a short time, but you can do this several times a day. You can not rub it with a towel, otherwise you can tear off the bubbles. It is better to slightly dampen the skin or allow it to 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 alleviate the symptoms of the disease and will contribute to a speedy recovery.