Is it possible to take a bath if you have the flu?

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Is it possible to take a bath if you have a cold?

In what cases is it possible and even necessary to take a bath for a cold, and in what cases is it strictly contraindicated? What effect do thermal procedures, including taking a bath, have at the moment when viruses attack a weakened body?

Table of contents:

What rules should be followed so that the procedure does not turn out to be useless, but brings tangible benefits?

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

Let's get rid of stereotypes!

Some doctors wonder: “Where did the myth come from that you can’t swim or take a bath during a cold?” Other experts have gone even further and argue that when you are sick, a bath is not only possible, but also necessary. True, there are a number of features here, which will be discussed further.

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

Follow the rules

As you already understand, doctors give the green light to take baths for colds. However, 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 does not cause harm.

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

  • Do not combine a bath with alcohol. Many of us prefer to drink alcoholic drinks when we have a cold, such as mulled wine, grog and others. Firstly, let us immediately note that it is better to abandon the treatment of colds with alcohol in favor of proven folk remedies and pharmaceutical preparations for colds. Well, if you still decide to “skip” a glass of hot mulled wine, then under no circumstances do this in the bath, or immediately before taking a bath.
  • Don't bathe in hot water. This is especially important if you have a fever. Taking a hot bath can cause it to increase even more, which will aggravate the painful symptoms. The water temperature should be within degrees.
  • Limit the time you spend in the bathroom. This is primarily due to high humidity in the bathroom. Normally, indoor air humidity should be at the level of 40-65% (unfortunately, during the heating season it is much lower, 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, which can worsen a cough and runny nose. Therefore, limiting the time you spend in the bathroom and also keeping the door slightly open will help reduce humidity.
  • It is best to take a bath in the evening, and after it you need to go to bed, while putting warm socks on your feet. You can also drink a glass of warm milk with honey or herbal tea, such as chamomile, after your bath.

Medicinal herbs for baths

Social warmth is replaced by physical warmth, which is why in moments of loneliness a person tends to take a hot bath

Herbal baths for colds have a healing 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 are essentially performing inhalation, as you will inhale vapors of medicinal herbs, which will alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease.

Who are contraindicated for baths?

You should avoid taking baths if you have certain chronic diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, varicose veins, and poor circulation in the brain.

If you are allergic to certain medicinal herbs, then under no circumstances use them to prepare herbal baths.

Instructions for medications

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The information published on the site is for informational purposes only. Described methods of diagnosis, treatment, traditional medicine recipes, etc. It is not recommended to use it yourself. Be sure to consult a specialist so as not to harm your health!

Source: http://www.likar.info/gripp-i-prostuda/articlemozhno-li-prinimat-vannu-pri-prostude/

Is it possible to take a bath if you have the flu?

Flu and colds are combined under one general term - ARVI. Taking vitamins, a healthy lifestyle and limiting contact with infected people will help avoid this insidious disease. If the disease still persists, every effort must be made to get better as quickly as possible and prevent the development of serious complications. Let's find out whether it is possible to wash when you have the flu and a cold, and whether water procedures will lead to a deterioration in your health.

General rules

It often happens that the disease does not go away for a long time. In people with weakened immune systems, cough, runny nose and other symptoms of a viral infection become protracted. In any case, it will take at least a week for complete recovery.

A sick person often sweats, which leads to clogged pores. Along with sweat, toxins produced by the virus are released. The question of whether it is possible to wash during ARVI disappears by itself, because dirty skin serves as a source of germs and bacteria. However, it is necessary to do water procedures taking into account certain recommendations:

  • the humidity level in the bathroom should not exceed 65%: the abundance of steam provokes the accumulation of mucous secretions in the upper respiratory tract, which will aggravate the cough and runny nose;
  • evening time is considered the most suitable time to wash if you have the flu, after which it is advisable to immediately go to bed in warm pajamas and socks;
  • the duration of water procedures should not exceed 20 minutes, since this period is quite sufficient for their therapeutic effect;
  • the air in the room should be warmed up, since hypothermia after washing is fraught with increased symptoms of the disease and the development of complications;
  • Drinking alcoholic tinctures or alcoholic drinks like mulled wine and grog before going to the bathroom is prohibited, as this creates additional stress on the cardiovascular system.

Thus, the question of whether it is possible to take a shower with the flu has received a positive answer. Staying under running warm water will not only bring cleanliness and freshness, but will also relieve fatigue, have a beneficial effect on the condition of joints and relax tense muscles. Now let’s find out whether it’s possible to take a bath if you have the flu.

Taking a bath: benefits and harms

Few people can deny themselves the pleasure of soaking in warm water with fluffy foam, sea salt and aromatic additives. In this regard, patients are often interested in whether it is possible to take a bath if they have the flu. This procedure will be beneficial if a person with ARVI fulfills a number of conditions.

Maintaining adequate temperature conditions is of great importance. Cool water will worsen the course of the disease, so it is better to postpone hardening until later. But is it possible to take a hot bath when you have the flu? This procedure is allowed if the patient does not have fever or chills. There is an opinion that a hot bath for colds and coughs will help relieve nasal congestion, ease breathing and reduce wheezing in the chest.

The optimal water temperature should vary in the range of °C.

A bath for the flu will be of great benefit if you add special ingredients to the water that help strengthen the immune system and mobilize the body's defenses. Aromatherapy has no less effect than inhalation. The following additives fall under this category:

  1. Essential oils of tea tree, eucalyptus, bergamot, sage, lavender, lemon. These aromatic agents have a pronounced antiviral effect and will speed up the patient’s recovery. They are allowed to be combined. The optimal single dose is 5-7 drops, since the oils have a high concentration of active ingredients.
  2. Medicinal herbs. Before taking a bath for a cold without fever, it is recommended to add medicinal herbal infusions to the water. For such purposes, dried chamomile, calendula, coltsfoot, eucalyptus, and thyme are perfect. Healing steams will help reduce swelling of the inflamed mucous membrane and cleanse the upper respiratory tract.
  3. A decoction of spruce or pine needles. It contains phytoncides - special biologically active substances that have bactericidal and antiseptic properties. To prepare the product, you need to pour 5 tablespoons of needles with a liter of boiling water. After 30 minutes, the healing infusion should be filtered and added to the bath.
  4. Ginger and garlic. Such ingredients have miraculous properties. Allicin in garlic has a detrimental effect on viruses and bacteria, and ginger root helps cleanse the body of their waste products. The grated cloves must be wrapped in gauze and placed on the bottom. Pour boiling water over 100 g of crushed ginger root and leave for half an hour, and then add the strained decoction to the water.

If you take such a bath for flu and colds at the initial stage of the disease, then you can hope that in the morning there will be no trace of the illness.

Sea salt also has healing properties. It will relieve muscle pain and aching joints, which often torment the patient during this period. Taking a bath during the flu is useful with sea salt and to relax the central nervous system. After such a procedure, sleep will be especially sound, which will allow the body to recover faster. To enhance the effect, you can add a few drops of iodine to the water.

Contraindications

There are a number of concomitant diseases for which bathing is not allowed. Taking a shower when you have the flu is the only right decision for these patients. This category includes people with pathologies such as:

  • arterial hypertension, since hot water dilates blood vessels and increases blood pressure;
  • diseases of the cardiovascular system, since during the procedure there is an excessive load on it;
  • insulin-dependent diabetes: taking a bath can cause blood sugar levels to drop to a critical limit, which can lead to glycemic coma;
  • inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system in the acute stage: cystitis, urethritis, STDs, since heating promotes the proliferation of pathogenic microbes;
  • benign neoplasms, such as fibroids, cysts, should not be exposed to high temperatures to avoid further cell division and malignant degeneration.

Taking a bath not only during the flu, but also in everyday life is prohibited for patients diagnosed with tuberculosis, embolism, thrombophlebitis, and varicose veins. The presence of extensive inflammation and purulent rashes on the skin also serves as an obstacle to this pleasant pastime. Hot water can cause hemorrhoids to worsen. An absolute contraindication to the procedure is the presence of an oncological process in the body.

Pregnant women are not recommended to take a bath during ARVI, so as not to create a risk of miscarriage. In this case, the expectant mother is recommended to stand for 5-10 minutes under a running warm shower.

What will happen if. High temperature wash

Upon closer examination of the question of whether it is possible to wash with a cold without fever, it turned out that following the rules of hygiene during this difficult period will only be beneficial. There is an opinion that fever and chills are incompatible with water procedures, and hot water will increase the heat. Let's try to figure out whether it's possible to swim if you have the flu and a fever.

In the first days of illness, when a person is tormented by a strong fever, he himself is unlikely to want to splash in the water. Of course, maintaining personal hygiene is necessary in any case. It is better to postpone water procedures until the patient’s condition is more or less stabilized. A weakened body is especially susceptible to pathogens of various diseases, and it is important to prevent the development of sore throat, pneumonia, and sinusitis. It is recommended to simply wipe the body of a patient with a temperature above 38°C with a damp towel.

Helpful tip: ethyl alcohol has the ability to regulate heat transfer. Rubbing the skin with vodka or ethanol will reduce the fever and alleviate the patient's condition. After the procedure, he should be thoroughly wrapped in a blanket.

The fair half of humanity is often concerned about the question of whether it is possible to take a shower during the flu, washing not only the body, but also the head. Owners of long braids are in danger in this case. You must wait until the fever subsides. Hair takes a long time to dry, and a small draft with reduced immunity threatens the development of serious complications such as meningitis or neuritis.

If you have a cold or flu, you can swim without a fever, but females are strongly advised to dry their hair with a hairdryer and avoid overcooling the steamed scalp.

Washing a child with ARVI

It is believed that immunity in children is fully formed only by the age of 16. Therefore, the child is more vulnerable to the effects of the virus. Complications of influenza and colds develop much more often in children than in adults and can affect the cardiovascular, urinary and central nervous systems. Let's find out whether it is possible to bathe a child with ARVI.

If the baby has not lost his appetite, the temperature has not risen, and the cold is accompanied by a wet cough and sneezing, then water treatments will only benefit him. Washing the body helps cleanse the skin of virus waste products. Swelling of the nasal cavity, trachea and bronchi is reduced, muscle tension is relieved, and sleep improves.

You can wash a child with ARVI with fever no earlier than an hour after taking an antipyretic drug. The thermometer before the procedure should show body temperature no more than 37.5°C. To avoid negative consequences for the baby, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

  1. Do not put your child in hot water. This will cause the baby's fever to increase. The flow of blood away from the head can cause a drop in blood pressure, which can lead to dizziness, tinnitus, and even fainting.
  2. Do not keep your baby in the shower for more than 5-10 minutes. This period is quite enough to wash off the sweat and not harm the patient. In this case, the temperature in the bathroom should not be lower than 25°C, and the water should be slightly warmer than usual, in the range of 37-38°C.
  3. After water procedures, the child must be wiped dry, dressed in warm pajamas and put to bed. A cup of hot milk with honey or tea with raspberries before bed will speed up recovery and further strengthen the immune system.

If a child is capricious, refuses to eat and is weakened by a strong fever, it is better to refrain from washing and pat his body dry with a damp towel. Rubbing the skin with vodka or ethyl alcohol is not recommended for children under 7 years of age. This rule especially applies to infants. Alcohol easily penetrates the bloodstream through thin skin and can cause intoxication.

Many mothers are concerned about when they can bathe their child after an acute respiratory viral infection. It will be allowed to put the baby in a bath with warm water as soon as his condition stabilizes and his temperature stops rising. This usually takes at least 7 days. It is useful to add decoctions of medicinal plants to the bath: sage, wild rosemary, eucalyptus, St. John's wort.

You should not bathe a child in hot water after the flu if you suspect a bacterial infection and the development of sinusitis or frontal sinusitis. In case of acute pharyngitis, which is accompanied by a barking cough, it is also not allowed to take a bath due to possible increased swelling of the respiratory tract and the threat of laryngeal stenosis. Contraindications to bathing a baby are wheezing in the chest and shortness of breath.

To summarize: washing with ARVI without fever is mandatory for both adults and children. If the patient has a mild fever, then it is allowed to spend 5-10 minutes under a warm shower. If you feel unwell, fever and chills, it is recommended to replace water procedures with rubbing. Bathing in the bath is useful during the recovery stage and in the absence of contraindications.

Source: http://gripptips.ru/protseduryi/mozhno-li-pri-grippe-prinimat-vannu.html

Bath for colds: harm or benefit?

Taking a bath has a beneficial effect on the human body. Along with cleansing the skin, the bath perfectly relieves fatigue, muscle pain, cleanses pores, relaxes and soothes. Baths with the addition of a variety of essential oils, herbal infusions, sea salt and other medicinal ingredients are especially useful.

Is it possible to take a bath if you have a cold? Many people refuse to wash themselves during illness for fear of further complicating their condition. What effect do water thermal procedures have on a weakened body at the moment of its resistance to viruses?

Bath in the treatment of colds: are such procedures justified?

According to doctors, it is not only possible to bathe during respiratory diseases, but in the first days of illness, a bath for a cold is a real salvation for a person. Immersed in moderately hot water, it warms up perfectly and evenly, which helps speed up recovery.

Regardless of what factor causes a cold and how long a person has been sick, no one has yet canceled the rules of personal hygiene. During treatment, the patient sweats heavily and often, so why should he remain unwashed for a week or longer? Therefore, the answer to the question “is it possible to wash when you have a cold” is unequivocal - it is possible and necessary.

But before you take water procedures, you should know whether they are allowed in your case. For example, at high temperatures, it would be more advisable to take a short hygienic shower instead of a bath. In any case, you must be guided by the state of your body, and to exclude possible complications, you should consult with your doctor.

Indications for taking a bath during a cold

Do you doubt whether you can take a hot bath if you have a cold? During respiratory diseases, taking baths is recommended not only to maintain good hygiene, but also to relieve a number of cold symptoms.

Indications for bathing in a bath for people with a cold are as follows:

  • body aches. In patients with ARVI, this symptom is quite common. A warm, but not too hot bath for a cold significantly reduces pain in the joints and muscles, eliminates aching back pain and improves the general condition of the patient;
  • labored breathing. In conditions of high humidity and under the influence of warm steam, a runny nose goes away much faster, breathing becomes noticeably easier, and a dry cough turns into a wet, more productive cough. The positive result of the water procedure will be significantly enhanced by the addition of medicinal herbs or essential oils to the water, but this is only relevant for people who are not prone to allergic reactions;
  • poisoning by toxins. Toxins released by bacteria and pathogens poison the human body. With excessive sweating, the pores become clogged, which significantly slows down the natural process of removing accumulated toxins. Therefore, cleansing the pores during illness is very important and to the question “is it possible to wash when you have a cold” the answer is clear - water procedures are useful for a speedy recovery;
  • depression. Many people, especially those accustomed to constant movement, must stay at home during treatment, and therefore experience sadness and melancholy, and feel increased fatigue. Warm baths significantly improve your psycho-emotional state and improve your mood, which is very important for quickly overcoming the disease.

You should not adhere to outdated beliefs and doubt whether you can swim when you have the flu. Bath procedures for respiratory diseases do not pose any danger if they are performed correctly, while following medical recommendations.

What should a patient with ARVI remember when taking a bath?

To the question “is it possible to take a bath without a fever if you have a cold,” the doctors’ answer is positive. But we must not forget that the body is fighting the disease that affects it. There are certain rules that must be followed when taking a bath for people with a cold:

  • You cannot combine a bath with alcohol. Some people prefer alcoholic drinks to warm them up when they have a cold. But, if you have a cold, it is better to give up alcohol altogether, and even if you drank a glass of mulled wine, you cannot take a bath after that;
  • at elevated body temperatures (39-40°C), the question of whether it is possible to wash with the flu will be superfluous. You should especially beware of hot water, as it can intensify the symptoms of the disease. Even if you decide to take a short shower, the water should not be hotter than 34-37°C;
  • Staying in the bathroom during illness should be limited. When you spend a long time in a room with high humidity, mucus production in the nasopharynx and throat increases, which can cause an exacerbation of a runny nose and cough. If there is no need to doubt whether it is possible to take a bath during a cold, then you should not delay this process for too long. The door to the room should be slightly open, which helps reduce humidity;
  • Having made sure whether you can wash yourself if you have a cold or flu, you should also take into account that it is better to take water procedures before going to bed at night, so that you can immediately go to bed and wrap yourself in a blanket. It is advisable to put socks on your feet and drink a glass of herbal tea or warm milk with honey.

If you adhere to the established rules, then why can’t you wash when you have a cold? It is possible and even necessary. Just remember the following: you need to monitor the temperature of the water and, accordingly, the temperature of your body, and do not use very hot water, since even completely healthy people it is not always useful.

When should you not take a bath if you have the flu?

Along with the fact that taking a bath is considered a very useful procedure, there are also certain restrictions that must be taken into account when deciding whether it is possible to take a bath with the flu:

  • Body temperature. Hot baths should be avoided in cases where the temperature is too high, and in general, to maintain personal hygiene in such situations, a short shower will be sufficient;
  • People with chronic vascular and heart diseases, as well as those with high blood pressure, should avoid taking a bath, especially a hot one, for respiratory diseases;
  • For those suffering from migraines, a hot bath will only worsen cold symptoms and provoke headache attacks. But is it possible to take a shower when you have a cold? People with frequent headaches should know that this is the safest way to maintain personal hygiene during treatment for ARVI;
  • allergy. Baths with the addition of medicinal herbs or aromatic oils are considered the most useful for colds. Such procedures are contraindicated for people prone to allergic reactions.

The most correct option to eliminate doubts about whether you can wash yourself with a cold without temperature in a hot bath is to consult with your doctor. If the doctor approves these procedures, then there is no reason to worry, but when you are advised to refrain from washing for a couple of days, then it is better not to risk it again and wait until your health improves.

Is it possible to take a shower if you have a cold?

A large number of people confidently claim that it is better to abstain from water procedures during respiratory diseases. But really, is it possible to take a shower when you have the flu or is it not worth it? What do medical professionals say about this?

It is no secret that with the flu, the patient uses diaphoretics and, if necessary, antipyretics, which increases sweating. The sweat produced clogs the pores, making it difficult to remove toxins and viral waste products from the body. This suggests that washing your body when you have a cold is mandatory. Therefore, the question “is it possible to wash during a cold” should not arise. You just need to do this in such a way that the procedure is as useful and safe as possible:

  • The water should be warm; the optimal temperature is considered to be in the range of 35-37°C. Do not forget that hot water will only increase the fever and complicate the patient’s condition;
  • even a short shower can lower the temperature and alleviate a feverish state, if you do not abuse water procedures and immediately after taking them, put on warm socks, go to bed and cover yourself with a warm blanket;
  • Is it possible to wash your hair if you have a cold while taking a shower? Doctors advise putting a special shower cap on your head before entering the shower. The fact is that hair takes a long time to dry, especially long hair, and this can cause hypothermia in the body. If cleansing the body is necessary, then you can refuse to wash your hair for a few days in favor of your own health.

If, nevertheless, the patient, while taking a shower or bath, without taking into account whether it is possible to wash your hair with the flu, decides to wash your hair, then as soon as possible you need to dry it with a hairdryer or wrap it tightly with a bath towel.

Another important recommendation from doctors is that it is better to shower at night.

The use of baths for patients with colds: therapeutic effect

Colds belong to the category of viral diseases, accompanied by a variety of symptoms. Provoking factors for the development of respiratory diseases are low immunity, hypothermia and progressive pathogenic viruses. Is it possible to swim if you have a cold and how safe is it? You can wash yourself when you have the flu, and standard water procedures can be made more effective if you use medicinal baths.

Therapeutic effects of baths on the body of a cold patient

These are the most common and fairly simple medicinal formulations. In fact, there are a huge number of recipes. Why not use them to speed up recovery, when you can wash after the flu and during the course of the disease? Aromatic oils added to the bath can significantly alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

Important! Regular use of medicinal baths promotes rapid recovery from respiratory diseases, and also strengthens the body's immunity and its resistance to damage by viruses.

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Is it possible to shower and wash if you have the flu?

Many people have to deal with colds. However, not everyone knows the answer to the question of whether it is possible to wash yourself if you have the flu and how this will affect your general condition.

Maintaining hygiene

Colds bring a lot of troubles: fever, aches and pain throughout the body, stuffy nose. Many people believe that during the period of illness it is necessary not only to tightly close all windows and doors so that heat does not escape, but also to cancel showers or other hygiene procedures to avoid hypothermia.

According to experts, this is a misconception. Flu is a viral disease. During illness, viruses become so active that the body releases a huge amount of toxins. And this leads to its poisoning and intoxication. To rid the body of them, all excretory organs work. The skin gets rid of toxins through sweat and skin secretions. This does not happen without consequences. On dirty skin, all pores become clogged with sebum. For this reason, she breathes poorly, and the person’s well-being worsens.

If you don’t wash, the products of the activity of pathogenic viruses will not be removed from the skin and the body will stop cleansing itself. This means that recovery will take much longer. Therefore, taking a shower when you have the flu is absolutely necessary. At this time, in addition to pleasant sensations, muscle tone increases and metabolic processes are activated. All this helps to more effectively resist harmful infections. But you need to carry out water procedures carefully so as not to get hypothermic when leaving the bathroom. If your body temperature is very high, it is better to avoid these procedures. Wiping with a damp towel will be sufficient until the temperature drops slightly.

The most common symptoms of the flu are pain and aches throughout the body. These unpleasant sensations prevent the patient from sleeping peacefully and do not allow them to relax. Since medications provide short-term relief, most people prefer to enhance their effect by taking a warm bath. It is very important to understand that a hot bath is not suitable in this case. The ideal water temperature is ° C. Warm water can relax muscles well, providing relief from flu pain. The effect can be enhanced by using a hot tub.

The benefits of warm air

The cold season contributes to a greater spread of colds and flu. This happens because it is during the winter that viruses intensify their activity. Taking a warm bath during illness helps steam air penetrate the nasal passages. Thanks to this, swelling of the mucous membrane is reduced, which makes it possible to breathe more freely. If you add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the water, the effect will be much stronger. Soda and salt can also be added to the water. This will enhance the therapeutic effect of water procedures.

Getting good sleep when you have colds and flu is the best way to speed up your recovery. During sleep, all the body's defense systems are activated, and it begins to fight the disease more effectively.

However, flu symptoms often interfere with proper sleep. Taking a bath or shower helps solve this problem.

After warm water, body temperature drops, a feeling of relaxation and drowsiness sets in, and nasal congestion decreases. All these factors help you fall asleep much faster.

Swimming when you have a cold or flu can help you better manage your symptoms.

But at this time you need to be very careful not to get too cold and run into even bigger problems. After completing water procedures, you should not be in drafts or near open windows. It is best to wrap yourself in a warm robe, quickly dry your hair and go to bed.

It is very important to note that if you have the flu, it is not recommended to take a bath or shower in the early morning. Experts have noticed that the time of day has a great impact on health. According to statistics, most often a stroke or heart attack occurs in the morning. Since colds greatly weaken the body, you should not expose it to unnecessary stress and risks.

Dehydration is the body's enemy

During illness, it is necessary to supply the body with plenty of fluid.

Drinking plenty of fluids makes it possible to cleanse the body and maintain its normal state. Fever and other symptoms can cause dehydration, so you should drink plenty of fluids both before and after your bath. It is better to give preference to warm green and herbal teas. It is better not to drink hot drinks. They will only irritate a sore throat and delay the healing process.

Source: http://respiratoria.ru/gripp-i-prostuda/mozhno-li-mytsya-pri-grippe.html

Is it possible to take a shower if you have a cold - the benefits and harms of water procedures

Everyone experiences colds and, as a rule, they treat colds at home. As a result, many myths have arisen around this disease. One of them is that during illness you should absolutely not wash yourself, since water procedures will only intensify the symptoms of the disease. However, doctors have their own point of view on this matter.

Colds: causes and symptoms

Features of the development of the disease

Colds are popularly called viral diseases with a certain set of symptoms. The most common causes of colds are hypothermia, decreased immunity and, of course, the pathogenic viruses themselves.

Hypothermia itself would not cause a cold without the virus. But when we freeze, our immunity weakens, making it easier for viruses to attack the body’s cells.

The main reason why people are afraid of getting ARVI is not its danger or complications, but an unpleasant condition when it is difficult to breathe, eat, and sleep. Often working people do not take sick leave due to a cold and they have to endure the illness on their feet.

There are a huge number of folk recipes against colds and advice on whether you can take a shower if you have a cold, how to eat properly and what to drink.

Everyone knows the signs of a cold. However, they may vary depending on the strength of the disease, the virus itself, the organism:

  • Cough and sore throat. A cold may begin with this symptom, or it may not occur at all throughout the entire illness. The throat turns red, hurts, it hurts to swallow and speak, there is a sore throat, a cough that gets worse at night.
  • Nasal congestion, sneezing, copious mucus discharge. A cold is not complete without this symptom. Nasal congestion manifests itself in different ways, for some it is a complete inability to breathe through the nose, severe swelling that only goes away with the help of sprays and drops, while for others it is a tolerable condition, when it is even possible to do without medications. Mucus secretion also has varying degrees. Sometimes the disease is limited to swelling.
  • Temperature. The temperature does not always appear, but if it does, then with ARVI it is low, 37.2 - 37.5. The elevated body temperature lasts about 2-3 days, after which it should subside. If it continues for up to a week, we can talk about a bacterial infection, which is usually treated with antibiotics.
  • Weakness, body aches. An unpleasant symptom when the whole body aches, fatigue, drowsiness appear, and it is difficult to react quickly and think. It usually appears on the second or third day of illness, and then decreases.

Showering for a cold: when and how to do it right

Water treatments and colds

Many people remember from childhood that mothers forbade washing during illness. No matter how long it lasted, you could only hover your feet, but not wash. Doctors consider such restrictions to be unreasonable.

When we have a cold, we sweat a lot, drink raspberry tea and other diaphoretics. Sweat clogs pores. It becomes more difficult for the body to eliminate toxins. Therefore, it is necessary to wash to cleanse the pores, but you need to do it correctly.

How to shower properly when you have a cold:

  • The water temperature should not be very high, preferably not higher than body temperature. This will avoid unnecessary overheating and increased heat.
  • You can take a shower and bath. We usually don’t stand under the shower for long, but we can lie in the bath as long as we like. But during illness it is not recommended to do this. Excessive humidity is harmful, it increases the formation of sputum, which can lead to a strong cough or increased flow of mucus from the nose.
  • It is possible and even beneficial to take a shower when it is hot. Doctors think so. A warm shower will help reduce the fever, relieve the condition and lower the temperature. However, it is advisable that it is just a shower and under no circumstances hot. After a shower, it is important to avoid hypothermia. You need to dry yourself thoroughly with a towel and put on warm socks and a robe.
  • When you're going to take a shower, don't forget your shower cap. Washing your hair when you have a cold is not as beneficial as washing your body. Hair takes a long time to dry, which leads to hypothermia, you can get caught in a draft and catch an even worse cold. If you wash your hair, immediately wrap it in a towel and then dry it with a hairdryer.
  • It is better to take a shower or bath not in the morning, but at night, so that after water procedures you can immediately put on warm socks and lie down under the blanket.
  • You can add herbs to the bath, for example, chamomile, St. John's wort. This is not only good for the skin, but will also serve as an inhalation to cleanse the lungs of phlegm.

Contraindications and common mistakes

Swimming during a cold can be harmful if you do not follow the rules or there are certain contraindications:

  • For example, people with heart and vascular diseases should not take hot baths at all, and especially if they have a weakened immune system or a cold.
  • People with varicose veins, heart failure, high blood pressure, and cerebral circulatory disorders should not take baths. However, showering is still not contraindicated. If you rinse quickly and not with hot water, there will be no harm.
  • It is worth remembering that any bath is a strain on the heart. Hot water increases pressure and increases the load on blood vessels. If your heart is already weak, replace the bath with a shower. It is useful during colds. If you choose a bath, do not lie in it for more than 20 minutes.
  • Bath and alcohol should not be mixed. We often hear advice such as “you need to warm up with vodka, and then immediately steam your feet.” This is completely false. It’s one thing to take a shower before bed, and another thing to take a thermal bath after drinking strong drinks. Alcohol does not cure diseases; it weakens the body and immunity. Sometimes they drink mulled wine to warm up, but this does not apply to viral diseases in full swing. Moreover, it is not recommended to take baths or steam your feet after drinking alcohol. This can lead to sudden changes in pressure.
  • You should not take hot baths if you have diabetes. They can cause low blood sugar levels. However, showering is also not contraindicated.
  • There is no need to get carried away with taking a bath during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has a cold, you can take a warm shower or a warm bath for no more than 5-10 minutes with the doctor's permission. Steaming your feet and taking hot baths is strictly prohibited. They can cause a miscarriage.

Useful video - how to properly treat a cold.

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Comments (15)

Tatiana

03/14/2016 at 23:17 | #

I just now have a cold, but I’m afraid to take a shower. And a bath too. At this time, my temperature immediately rises from the shower and bath, and I get sick more. But I really want to lie in a hot bath!

Lily

03/15/2016 at 23:16 | #

I read that you should take a bath with baking soda at the first sign of a cold, that baking soda removes harmful toxins from the body and will help prevent illness. I haven’t tried this method yet, for some reason I’m afraid that the disease will develop more from taking a bath. Maybe someday I'll take a risk...

V-Teck

10/30/2017 at 11:25 | #

It’s better to eat soda in tablespoons - two packs, I think, will be enough. No toxins will ever come out, this way or that (if a person has so many toxins that they need to be removed, his liver has failed, and he’s in a bad way to live), but there will be fewer tales about magical, damn soda on the Internet.

12/22/2017 at 12:59 pm | #

Much more toxins are eliminated through the skin than through the liver.

03/27/2016 at 23:04 | #

When I have a sore throat or a cold in general, I give myself a bath with essential oils. This is usually eucalyptus or peppermint oil. I leave the bathroom healthier.

Naina

04/03/2016 at 23:26 | #

Although I myself grew up with advice not to bathe when you have a cold (and at the same time take a steam bath), I agree that a light rinse with non-hot water in the shower is helpful to wash off the perspiration. Of course, you need to wash your hair with caution.

Sophia

04/22/2016 at 23:33 | #

I think that a warm shower or a hot bath for a cold is not only not harmful, but even beneficial. I add 1-2 drops of fir oil to the water, for runny nose and cough - that’s it. The main thing is to avoid drafts!

05/23/2016 at 23:10 | #

I have always been tormented by this question of whether to swim or not to swim when I have a cold. There are a lot of disagreements on this matter. Well, I still think that there is clearly no need to swim at high temperatures.

The most beautiful

26.10.2016 at 09:15 | #

If I have a cold, I can only rinse off in the shower. I make the water at room temperature. Under no circumstances should you soar your feet if you have a fever! At the first symptoms, I try to take antiviral medications. If a cough starts, I take inhalations. In addition, I take Sinorm balm. The drug contains herbal extracts, so the balm is excellent for strengthening the immune system. The main thing is to start treating a cold on time. Usually after 3-4 days everything goes away for me.

Irina

12/23/2016 at 11:13 pm | #

When I have a cold, I try to limit my intake of water treatments. I have noticed more than once that after washing my hair, the healing process is somewhat delayed, it is better to wait a little.

Elena

07/29/2017 at 12:39 | #

For me, colds have never been a limiting factor for taking water procedures. On the contrary, when you take a warm shower, somehow you even feel better mentally, not only physically. So I'm in favor!)

08/19/2017 at 19:27 | #

I take a shower, but if you have a cold, you need to dry yourself thoroughly. Personally, a shower helps me a lot. After a shower, I definitely advise you to dress warmly and stay away from the sun, even if it’s summer

Mokina Sveta

01/18/2018 at 01:36 pm | #

I am against showering when I have a cold, and even more so when I have a fever. I think it’s better to wait until you feel better. If necessary, you can simply dry yourself with a warm, wet towel.

Irina

02/17/2018 at 08:16 | #

Hmm, very interesting about the shower. I take Ingavirin at the first sign of a cold, I feel much better, and then I take one capsule for 5 days and am cured.

Gregory

02/20/2018 at 01:23 pm | #

When I have a cold, even if I’m “sweating,” I don’t take a shower or bath. I still don’t leave the apartment. I just dry myself with a warm, damp towel or simply change the bed linen to dry and fresh ones and go back to bed.

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Water treatments during the flu

During the flu, people have to cope with many symptoms of the disease. There are many myths and misconceptions in society. However, many people do not know whether it is possible to wash themselves if they have the flu. It is worth remembering that in some cases, taking a bath or swimming in the shower can only harm the patient.

Flu and hygiene

Influenza, like other ARVIs, are diseases that are accompanied by various symptoms, for example, fever, runny nose, cough, body aches and pain, etc.

Many people, during this period of the disease, try to protect themselves from the outside world as best as possible: they move little, practically do not leave the room, stay in the same room, but do not ventilate it to avoid drafts and cold air entering the room, do not wash. Warmth is actually beneficial for the patient during the period of illness, but the constant accumulation of microbes in the same room where the patient is located leads to a deterioration in his health.

It is simply necessary to carry out timely hygiene and body care during this period. Influenza is a disease caused by viruses. When they enter the body, they begin to actively develop and release many toxins, which subsequently simply poison the body.

In order to avoid intoxication, the body tries in every possible way to remove microbes from the body, including through the skin with the help of sweat. If you do not adhere to the rules of personal hygiene during this period, the condition of the child or adult patient may worsen.

Thus, taking a warm shower during flu is essential. This procedure will not only get rid of toxins, but will also significantly improve the patient’s well-being. As for taking a bath, it should be avoided if the body temperature exceeds 38 degrees. Taking a hot bath with a high temperature is dangerous; the blood vessels and heart, which are already subject to stress due to the flu, may simply not be able to withstand it.

Note! If you still decide to wash and take a bath, then monitor the temperature of the water in it; it should not exceed 34–37 °C. Pay attention to your body temperature and avoid hypothermia after taking a bath. A sudden change in temperature can significantly affect the course of the disease.

Warm air

Taking baths during illness is beneficial for the whole body. Firstly, the human body relaxes and toxins are released. Secondly, such procedures can improve the general well-being of the patient and get rid of some symptoms.

It is best to take baths during illness, with sea salt, which dissolves in water and then evaporates with the water. When inhaling evaporated water with salt, the respiratory tract relaxes, the process of mucus removal improves, swelling of the nasal walls disappears and breathing becomes freer. In addition, you can use a little pine extract for a bath, it will help improve sleep if you cannot sleep for a long time and complain of a headache due to the flu.

Does the flu cause dehydration?

The body's active attempts to eliminate harmful toxins often lead to dehydration. This is why many doctors recommend drinking plenty of fluids when you have the flu. It is worth remembering that the human body can not only absorb liquid from the inside through the stomach, but also through the skin. Thus, taking a bath and shower can improve the body's metabolic processes and maintain water balance.

If you have a high temperature (more than 38 degrees), it is recommended to use wet towels or napkins.

Based on the above, swimming and taking care of your own hygiene is important and necessary during the course of any acute respiratory viral infection, including influenza.

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Is it possible to swim if you have a cold - a bath if you have the flu or ARVI

Both adults and children suffer from colds. It is no secret that many myths have arisen around this disease. If you believe one of them, then a person who has a cold should under no circumstances take water procedures.

It is believed that they only aggravate the patient’s situation and worsen his overall well-being. But this theory has long been questioned. And there are many good reasons for this.

Is swimming allowed for a person with a cold?

The myth that you can’t swim if you have a cold has long been debunked. This procedure can be quite useful for a weakened body, provided that the temperature is selected correctly. In addition, hardly anyone agrees to give up bathing for a week. After all, for most people, cleanliness of the body is mandatory. And no cold will allow them to give up this rule.

Swimming with flu and colds is allowed for one important reason. This procedure can be therapeutic. It has a beneficial effect on muscles and joints, heals the skin and helps cope with painful sensations in the back. Water procedures also enable the body to get rid of sweat, which is released in large quantities during illness.

Experts' opinion

Medical experts support the theory that taking water procedures during illness is recommended. The patient should not be afraid of a deterioration in his health, provided that the basic rules of bathing during a cold are followed.

Doctors do not advise patients to abuse hot baths. It is worth noting that they can cause harm even to a healthy person. To alleviate the general symptoms of a cold, you should limit yourself to swimming in warm water. The patient will be as comfortable as possible in it.

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Is it possible to shower if you have a cold?

As a child, many of us were only allowed by our parents to soak our feet when we had a cold, but under no circumstances to swim. However, doctors say that such behavior is not advisable. When suffering from a cold, a person sweats a lot. This occurs against the backdrop of constant temperature fluctuations. Sweat quickly clogs pores and prevents the skin from breathing normally. This only worsens the patient’s condition, since his body is unable to naturally get rid of toxic substances.

Regular bathing for colds is recommended as it helps the body cleanse itself of sweat and dirt. To avoid spending a long time in the bathroom, you should use a shower. Following a number of simple rules will help you avoid unpleasant consequences after such a water procedure:

  • It is not advisable to linger too long in the bathroom. It is enough to take water procedures for about 5 minutes to thoroughly cleanse your body.
  • You should not linger in the shower stall also because it contains high humidity. And it is harmful for ARVI, as it can lead to the formation of sputum in the respiratory tract and increase the flow of mucus from the nose.
  • After the water procedure, you must immediately put on a warm robe and socks. Before this, the body should be thoroughly wiped with a clean towel.
  • There is no need to wash your hair when you are sick. It is best to put a special cap on it. If you wet your hair, it will take a long time to dry. And this is fraught with hypothermia for a person who has caught a cold. If the patient needs to wash his hair, after the procedure he should immediately wrap it in a towel and then dry it with a hairdryer.
  • It is best to go to the shower closer to night, preferably before bed. This way the patient will have the opportunity to immediately lie down in a warm bed. In the morning, water treatments should be avoided.

Don't wash in the shower too often. This must be done as needed. One bath a day will be enough.

Basic rules for taking a bath for a cold

Bathing in a bath is more preferable for many, since in this case the patient will be able to completely relax and bathe calmly. The only negative is that a person can completely forget about time and spend much more than the recommended time in it.

Such bathing must also follow the following rules:

  1. You should not go to the bathroom after drinking alcohol. Many people take alcoholic beverages to treat colds. However, it is best to trust more effective drugs that are sold in pharmacies. If the patient does drink alcohol, then he is prohibited from taking water treatments, as they can negatively affect his well-being.
  2. Hot baths will only harm a person with a cold. They will cause a sharp increase in body temperature and the onset of fever.
  3. It is recommended to spend a minimum amount of time in the bathroom. While the patient is taking water procedures, warm steam will be able to penetrate into the respiratory tract. In his condition, being in a room with a high level of humidity is undesirable. This is because it increases the production of mucus in the nasopharynx. And this leads to the formation of a severe runny nose and cough with sputum. Opening the door slightly will help reduce the humidity in the bathroom.
  4. Doctors recommend going to the bathroom in the evening. After the procedure, you should immediately put on warm clothes with socks and wrap yourself in a blanket.

While bathing, the patient can drink a cup of warm tea made from natural herbs that help fight colds. The most beneficial are mint and chamomile.

Going to the bathhouse when you have the flu

There is a popular belief that going to the bathhouse during a cold will help a person recover faster. This theory is only half correct. Doctors allow patients to visit this place, but only at the very beginning of the development of the disease. That is, a person should not yet become completely ill. He may only have the first symptoms of a cold, for example, a stuffy nose, sneezing and joint pain. In this case, the steam room will be very useful, especially if medicinal herbs are used during the procedure.

Following these recommendations will help you protect yourself from unpleasant consequences after going to the steam room:

  1. The patient should not undergo hardening procedures. Dipping into icy waters and dousing them with them will negatively affect a person’s well-being and cause a feverish state. After the steam room, it’s better to just have a good rest, wrapped in a warm robe.
  2. Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids. Regular tea will not work in this case. Preference should be given to decoctions of medicinal herbs, which will be pleasant to the patient’s taste and will help to quickly eliminate the cold.
  3. In the steam room you need to warm up well, but do not overload the body. He is already weak, as he is forced to fight a cold. Therefore, you should not immediately enter the steam room. You should spend about 10 minutes in the locker room, thereby preparing the body for heat and high humidity. Then you can lightly douse yourself with warm water and after a few minutes go into the steam room.
  4. In the steam room, it is advisable to choose a place away from the stove to avoid overheating.

If the body of a person who gets a cold was not prepared for a sharp temperature jump, then a strong drop in pressure may occur. A cup of coffee will help solve the problem. You shouldn't go anywhere in this state. It's best to go home straight away. It is recommended to find an accompanying person who will monitor the general well-being of the patient. If a person becomes very ill after the steam room, he should immediately call an ambulance.

Contraindications for swimming

It is highly recommended not to swim for people who have a cold in the following cases:

  1. For cardiovascular disorders.
  2. For hypertension.
  3. For varicose veins.
  4. With impaired blood circulation in the brain.

Patients who are allergic to certain medicinal plants will have to refuse water treatments with herbal infusions.

Water procedures for a person who has a cold are not mandatory, but recommended. Whether it is worth swimming or not, he must decide for himself. The patient should carefully monitor his condition and well-being. If he does not have a fever or severe weakness, then a couple of minutes spent in warm water will only do him good.

And a little about secrets.

If you or your child are often sick and are treated with antibiotics alone, know that you are only treating the effect, not the cause.

So you simply “spare” money to pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies and get sick more often.

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