Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Fact Check: Can Cold Morning Showers Trigger Brain Stroke?

A video is making rounds on Instagram, where a Norwegian cardiologist is being quoted who says that cold morning showers could lead to <span>brain stroke</span>. The explanation is that majority of people who had brain strokes, took cold morning showers. 

The post explained: "cold water causes instant vascular constriction in 2 seconds, and the blood pressure surges to 200/130. The heart races at 180 beats per minute, struggling to pump through narrowed arteries. Then the weakest brain vessels ruptures."

When this claim was contradicted by stating that most research mention that cold water is good for you, the "Cardiologist" explained: “Those studies tested healthy athletes at 4 p.m., when pressure is steady. Marketers then pushed the findings for all times, all conditions.”

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/new-covid-frankenstein-variant-might-be-behind-your-tooth-pain-nhs-warns-of-new-symptom-article-153024905" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">New Covid ‘Frankenstein’ Variant Might Be Behind Your Tooth Pain; NHS Warns of New Symptom</a> 

However, the video did not actually feature a cardiologist, neither did mention any name or place of practicing of the cardiologist. All that was mentioned was 'Volkov' as the cardiologist. Furthermore, the post description that claimed studies have shown the correlation between cold waters and brain stroke did not cite any studies, thus the Health and Me team ran a fact check on the claim. 

<h2>Cold Shower Stroke Risk: Here's What we Found</h2>Similar claim was made by a UiTM Professor, who said that because the 'body takes time to adjust its temperature too quickly because we are warm-blooded' thus sudden cold water on head, suggesting the sequence of showering, could lead to a stroke.

However, this claim was also debunked by Thanh Phan, head of neuroscience research at Monash Health, who said that majority of stroke happens due to clot obstructing blood flow in brain. He said that it does not mention anything about showering sequence. 

Again, in 2024, in an Instagram reel, shared by @vedantsir_, the claim was made that brain hemorrhages happen because of the way of bathing. This is because we put our head under the cold water immediately, as opposed to how our ancestors did, when they would take a bath in the river. 

However, plenty scientific evidence suggest that cold baths can in fact, offer health benefits, including enhanced immune function, improved stress resilience, cardiovascular support, better insulin sensitivity, and positive effects on mental health.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/can-you-get-your-covid-and-flu-shots-at-the-same-time-experts-explain-article-153025015" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Can You Get Your Covid And Flu Shots At The Same Time? Experts Explain</a> 

While earlier studies and fact checks do point that the claim of cold shower causing brain strokes, Dr Sahil Kohli, Associate Director, Neurology, Neurosciences at Max Hospital Gurugram in a video says that cold shower could in fact cause peripheral vasoconstrictions, and may increase stroke risk. This claim however, is opposite to what Dr Rahul Chawla, Neurologist at IBS Hospital, Delhi says. 

Dr Chawla says, and as reported by Medical Dialogues, that there is no 'correct' way to bathe. "For instance, some people believe that stepping directly under a shower or pouring water straight onto the head causes a sudden temperature change that leads to stroke, paralysis, or brain hemorrhage. However, these claims are completely unfounded and have no scientific support."

<h2>Watch The Video Shared On Instagram Here:</h2>

Health And Me also spoke to Dr Keni Ravish Rajiv, Senior Consultant, Neurology and Head of Epilepsy Services, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, who said that it is a myth that cold water shower in the morning brain stroke in all individuals. However, he did point out that patients who have underlying heart disease like blood pressure or other heart, the sudden cold water could lead to fluctuation of heart rate, and blood vessels can go into spasm. 

"To be safe, a healthy person nothing will happen, but always patients who are elderly, or have underlying cardiac, we should tell them not to jump suddenly into ice water. They can take a normal shower or they can start with a few seconds of cold, then switch to a normal shower," recommends the doctor.

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A video is making rounds on Instagram, where a Norwegian cardiologist is being quoted who says that cold morning showers could lead to brain stroke. The explanation is that majority of people who had brain strokes, took cold morning showers. The post explained: "cold water causes instant vascular constriction in 2 seconds, and the blood pressure surges to 200/130. The heart races at 180 beats per minute, struggling to pump through narrowed arteries. Then the weakest brain vessels ruptures."When this claim was contradicted by stating that most research mention that cold water is good for you, the "Cardiologist" explained: “Those studies tested healthy athletes at 4 p.m., when pressure is steady. Marketers then pushed the findings for all times, all conditions.”Also Read: New Covid ‘Frankenstein’ Variant Might Be Behind Your Tooth Pain; NHS Warns of New Symptom However, the video did not actually feature a cardiologist, neither did mention any name or place of practicing of the cardiologist. All that was mentioned was 'Volkov' as the cardiologist. Furthermore, the post description that claimed studies have shown the correlation between cold waters and brain stroke did not cite any studies, thus the Health and Me team ran a fact check on the claim. Cold Shower Stroke Risk: Here's What we FoundSimilar claim was made by a UiTM Professor, who said that because the 'body takes time to adjust its temperature too quickly because we are warm-blooded' thus sudden cold water on head, suggesting the sequence of showering, could lead to a stroke.However, this claim was also debunked by Thanh Phan, head of neuroscience research at Monash Health, who said that majority of stroke happens due to clot obstructing blood flow in brain. He said that it does not mention anything about showering sequence. Again, in 2024, in an Instagram reel, shared by @vedantsir_, the claim was made that brain hemorrhages happen because of the way of bathing. This is because we put our head under the cold water immediately, as opposed to how our ancestors did, when they would take a bath in the river. However, plenty scientific evidence suggest that cold baths can in fact, offer health benefits, including enhanced immune function, improved stress resilience, cardiovascular support, better insulin sensitivity, and positive effects on mental health.Also Read: Can You Get Your Covid And Flu Shots At The Same Time? Experts Explain While earlier studies and fact checks do point that the claim of cold shower causing brain strokes, Dr Sahil Kohli, Associate Director, Neurology, Neurosciences at Max Hospital Gurugram in a video says that cold shower could in fact cause peripheral vasoconstrictions, and may increase stroke risk. This claim however, is opposite to what Dr Rahul Chawla, Neurologist at IBS Hospital, Delhi says. Dr Chawla says, and as reported by Medical Dialogues, that there is no 'correct' way to bathe. "For instance, some people believe that stepping directly under a shower or pouring water straight onto the head causes a sudden temperature change that leads to stroke, paralysis, or brain hemorrhage. However, these claims are completely unfounded and have no scientific support."Watch The Video Shared On Instagram Here:                  View this post on Instagram            A post shared by Alex (@webb3alex)]]>Health And Me also spoke to Dr Keni Ravish Rajiv, Senior Consultant, Neurology and Head of Epilepsy Services, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, who said that it is a myth that cold water shower in the morning brain stroke in all individuals. However, he did point out that patients who have underlying heart disease like blood pressure or other heart, the sudden cold water could lead to fluctuation of heart rate, and blood vessels can go into spasm. "To be safe, a healthy person nothing will happen, but always patients who are elderly, or have underlying cardiac, we should tell them not to jump suddenly into ice water. They can take a normal shower or they can start with a few seconds of cold, then switch to a normal shower," recommends the doctor.