Contrast shower is a procedure based on alternating hot and cold water. It is becoming increasingly popular among people seeking to improve their health and general well-being. The key idea is to change the temperature of the water, which in turn triggers many physiological processes in the body. This method of hardening strengthens your blood vessels, improves your overall tone and boosts your immune system, making you more resistant to stress and infection.
In what diseases helps contrast shower
Medics recommend alternating cold and warm showers during the treatment of such diseases:
- metabolic disorders;
- treatment of asthenic syndrome (chronic fatigue syndrome);
- psychosomatic diseases (chronic stress, neurosis);
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- varicose veins.
Contrast shower for legs with varicose veins should never be carried out if the condition is accompanied by the formation of blood clots.
Benefits for the heart and blood vessels
According to a cardiologist, alternating water temperatures trains the blood vessels and helps reduce the risk of congestion in the circulatory system. In addition, the gradual adaptation of the body to sudden temperature changes helps to strengthen the heart muscle.
Contrast showers stimulate the release of endorphins, the happy hormones, which reduces stress levels. And since stress is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease, regular procedures can be useful for prevention.
Also, contrast dousing helps normalize blood pressure, especially in people with a predisposition to hypertension. However, if you have chronic heart disease, be sure to consult your doctor before starting the practice. Contrast showers can be beneficial, but should not be performed by people with certain cardiovascular conditions.
Why contrast showers boost immunity
People with weakened immunity, often sick with colds, contrast shower is recommended as a preventive measure. Water hardening can be carried out only in a healthy state.
Under the influence of hot and cold water irritates a number of receptors. In response to the excitation of the autonomic nervous system, the brain signals the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. It is this hormone that supports immunity and helps the body adapt to stress more quickly.
Contraindications
Contrast shower is contraindicated in such diseases:
- biliary urolithiasis;
- any acute inflammation;
- recurrent thrombophlebitis;
- atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels;
- wounds, skin diseases;
- hypertension;
- diseases of the cardiovascular system.
In functional exhaustion of the adrenal glands to carry out the procedure is possible, but in the area near the focus of the disease it is better to use less contrasting temperatures.
Rules for taking a contrast shower for the whole body
During the procedure, you can water only the body, but not the head. To cheer up, you can wash your face with cold water. In the first days, while the body is not yet accustomed, you can reduce discomfort if you start dousing from the feet and gradually rise higher.
Medics advise to carry out the procedure in this order:
- Start dousing with warm water of a comfortable temperature, gradually increasing the temperature to 45 degrees.
- After 30-90 seconds, sharply turn on cold water.
- After the same period of time again, switch the water to hot.
- Change the temperature 4-5 times, the last one should always be cold water.
- Turn off the water and rub vigorously with a stiff towel until the skin is slightly reddened.
Never start dousing immediately with ice water. This causes too sharp vasospasm, which is dangerous to health and even life. In people with low blood pressure it can provoke a heart attack.
Rules for taking a contrast shower of the legs
Contrast shower with varicose veins of the lower extremities helps in the treatment of the disease in the early stages, and can prevent its development into more severe forms. It increases the elasticity of the vessel walls, improves capillary blood circulation and reduces the risk of congestion.
It is important to remember that with varicose veins, you can not raise the temperature of the water above 50 degrees. This will lead to too much relaxation of the vessels and a sharp increase in blood flow, which is contraindicated in this disease.
- Start the process by dousing your feet with water at room temperature, slowly increasing the temperature to an acceptable temperature.
- Alternate the temperature mode every 10-15 seconds.
- Increase the temperature contrast slowly, no more than 1 degree daily.
- On the first day, conduct contrast dousing of the legs for 1 minute, with each day increasing the time up to 10 minutes.
- Direct the water jet from bottom to top, starting from the fingertips to the middle of the thighs, along the course of venous blood flow.
Useful tips
- It is better to start the procedure in the warm season, when the risk of getting sick with seasonal ARVI is lower.
- Take a contrast shower with a runny nose, cough, maxillary sinusitis, elevated body temperature is not recommended.
- It is also not desirable to take a contrast shower for women during menstruation.
- After hot you need to pour cold water. If its temperature is not low enough, you will simply freeze and even risk catching a cold.
- During the procedure do not stay long in one place, constantly move the water jet between areas of the body.
- The main sign that you have properly conducted the procedure is the feeling of vigor immediately after it. After a contrast shower, there should never be chills or sudden cooling of the extremities.
Conclusion
Contrast showering is a simple and affordable procedure that, when used correctly, can significantly strengthen the vascular system, boost immunity and improve overall health. It helps in the prevention of a number of diseases, including varicose veins, hypertension and chronic fatigue, as well as helping to reduce stress levels. However, it is important to consider contraindications and follow the recommendations of specialists. Only regular and competent use of contrast showers really brings benefits without harm to health.
