Hot baths after infection: do not exacerbate infection
In the public perception, the perception that a hot bath after an infection increases the infection is deeply felt, and many people are deterred from taking a hot bath during their illness. However, this is actually a mistake, and we need to rediscover the matter of hot bathing during the infection from a scientific perspective.
The infection is the process by which the immune system interacts with pathogens after they enter the human body. When viruses, bacteria or other pathogens enter the human body, the body initiates an immune response, with a range of symptoms such as fever, inactivity and cough. In case of flu, for example, nose viruses, etc., are proliferating in the respiratory tract, stimulating the immune system to produce inflammatory media, leading to disturbances in the centre of body temperature regulation, and thus to heat.
In a hot bath, the hot water expands the blood vessels on the skin surface and accelerates the blood cycle. This appears to place the body in a more “active” state, but does not actually aggravate the infection. On the one hand, the acceleration of the blood cycle has contributed to the faster transport of immunocellular cells to all parts of the body and has enhanced the immune system ‘ s defence and removal of pathogens. Just as an army is supplied with more efficient transport, it can move more quickly to battle the enemy. On the other hand, the heat created by a hot bath can alleviate to some extent the muscular acidity and physical inactivity associated with the infection. For example, for flu patients, the warmth brought by hot baths can ease the acidic pain caused by heat and muscle stress and make them relatively comfortable.
Hot baths also play a special role in cases of fever. While a hot bath may temporarily increase body temperature, when removed from the hot bath environment, the body may heat up, including through sweating, thus reducing body temperature. This is because both skin vascular expansion and evaporation of sweat can take the heat away, with similar physical cooling. Similar to the principle of the use of precipitating drugs, it is only in a more mild and natural way, without interfering with the human body ‘ s own immune regulation mechanism or aggravating the infection.
Of course, there is also some room for attention in hot baths after infection. The first is the control of water temperature, which should not be too high, generally at around 40°C. Excessive water temperatures can burn the skin, disrupt its barrier function and increase the risk of infection. At the same time, bathing time should not be too long to avoid dehydration or excessive physical consumption due to prolonged periods of heat. For patients who are extremely weak, such as those suffering from severe pneumonia or chronically high fever, it is advisable to be accompanied in the shower in case of accidents in the shower.
In addition, the bath should be followed by a timely drying of the body and warm clothing to avoid cooling. As a result of reduced physical resistance during the infection, new complications such as re-influencing can be caused by cold, but this is not because the heat bath itself exacerbates the infection, but because of inadequate follow-up care.
We need to correct the misconception that “heat baths increase infection after infection”. During an infection, a reasonable bath not only does not exacerbate the condition, but rather helps to alleviate discomfort, promote blood circulation and improve immune functions. However, in bathing, scientific methods are followed, with regard to water temperature, time and follow-up care, so that you can take better care of yourself and rest during the period of illness, so that you can help you to recover as quickly as possible.
