Can Washing Your Hair Trigger a Stroke? Things to Know About Bathing for the Elderly

Can Washing Your Hair Trigger a Stroke? Things to Know About Bathing for the ElderlySummer is here, and even a little movement can make you sweat. Li, a middle-aged woman, loves to stay clean, so after lunch every day she washes her hair to avoid a sweaty head

Can Washing Your Hair Trigger a Stroke? Things to Know About Bathing for the Elderly

Summer is here, and even a little movement can make you sweat. Li, a middle-aged woman, loves to stay clean, so after lunch every day she washes her hair to avoid a sweaty head. But one afternoon, as she bent over to rinse the foam from her hair, she suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed in the bathroom. Luckily, someone was home that day and she was rushed to the nearest hospital. After examination, the doctor preliminarily diagnosed it as a stroke, and washing her hair was likely the trigger. This left her wondering: why could washing her hair lead to a stroke? Does this mean she can't wash her hair anymore?

In fact, there's a connection between washing your hair and stroke. Stroke is a malignant cerebrovascular disease caused by obstruction of blood supply to the brain, leading to ischemic necrosis of the relevant tissue. After an attack, patients are highly likely to experience serious consequences such as hemiplegia, aphasia, and even life-threatening situations. Washing hair is one of the everyday activities that can trigger a stroke. This is because the wrong water temperature, posture, and force during washing can lead to increased blood pressure, cerebral vasospasm, etc., which are common triggers for stroke.

For middle-aged and elderly people with chronic diseases or weakened immunity, washing hair safety is even more crucial. They need to be more cautious in choosing the time, water temperature, and method of washing hair, as well as paying attention to post-wash care, to reduce the risk of stroke.

I. Stroke May Be Related to Washing Hair? Wash the Body First or the Hair First?

Many people question the order of bathingshould you wash your body first or your hair first? There's no absolute answer to this question, and it needs to be chosen according to your individual situation.

Some argue that washing your hair first increases the cardiovascular burden, so you shouldn't "start from the head" when showering. The magazine "Nikkan Gendai" once reported that approximately 14,000 people die from improper bathing in Japan each year, highlighting the importance of bathing order. Although the claim that "washing your hair first can trigger illness" is somewhat exaggerated, in certain cases, washing your hair later is indeed more beneficial to your health.

Rodney D. Sinclair, a scholar at the Victorian Skin and Cancer Foundation, conducted research on whether to wash the body or hair first. He found that washing the body first allows the hair to receive better nourishment in a hot and humid environment. However, for individuals with acne or pimples, washing your hair last may cause some shampoo residue to remain on the skin, aggravating skin problems.

Therefore, whether to wash your hair or body first depends on individual needs and there's no absolute right or wrong answer. You should choose what suits you best.

II. Choose the Right Time for Bathing, These 4 Time Periods are Not Suitable

Bathing seems like a simple daily activity, but it can become "dangerous" at certain times, potentially affecting your health. It's best to avoid the following 4 time periods:

1. After Physical or Mental Activity: After strenuous exercise or physical labor, the human body is in an excited state, with rapid blood circulation. Showering at this time can cause severe vasoconstriction, increasing cardiovascular stress, especially when taking cold showers. Additionally, it's not suitable to shower immediately after intense mental activity, as it may cause blood to continuously shift to the surface of the body, causing insufficient blood supply to the brain and leading to fainting.

2. After Alcohol Consumption: When drinking alcohol, the liver cannot complete the conversion process of glycogen to glucose. Combined with the increased glucose consumption during bathing, it can lead to hypoglycemia, resulting in dizziness, blurred vision, and unconsciousness.

3. When Full or Empty Stomach: After a full meal, the body concentrates blood in the digestive system to help with digestion. Showering at this time, with the expansion of blood vessels, reduces blood circulation in the digestive system, hindering proper digestion and even causing indigestion. On an empty stomach, there is a risk of hypoglycemia. If showering causes blood to continuously concentrate in the skin tissue, it affects normal blood supply to the brain, potentially leading to fainting.

4. Before Bed: It's not advisable to shower before bed because the body is in an excited state after showering and may make it difficult to fall asleep. The journal "Sleep Medicine Reviews" published research showing that showering and going to bed 1-2 hours later accelerates the falling asleep process. Therefore, it's best to avoid showering right before bed.

Additionally, it's crucial to note that elderly individuals should not shower for extended periods. Prolonged bathing can cause the blood vessels of the elderly to fail to dilate properly, leading to a spike in blood pressure and inducing fainting, especially for those with cardiovascular diseases. They should limit their daily shower time to 20-30 minutes.

III. Should the Elderly Take Frequent Baths? How Often Should They Shower?

For many elderly individuals, bathing-related health issues are not uncommon, especially the frequency of bathing. Many people don't know that taking a bath once a day for the elderly is considered over-bathing, which is not beneficial to their health. This is particularly true for elderly individuals who have chronic conditions like hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes. They should also be cautious about temperature differences during bathing to avoid triggering myocardial infarction.

It's recommended that individuals aged 65 and above shower once a week during the winter and spring when temperatures are colder. During the summer and autumn when it's hot and they sweat more, bathing twice a week is sufficient. Of course, if you have a body type that tends to sweat and produce oil, you can increase the frequency of bathing, but it's best to avoid soaking.

IV. 4 Important Points to Remember for Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals When Bathing

Besides frequency, there are many precautions that older adults should take when bathing, especially the following 4 points that are often overlooked:

1. Do not Scrub Vigorously: Many people enjoy vigorously scrubbing when bathing, especially with hot water, thinking it cleanses better. However, this can easily cause excessive exfoliation of the stratum corneum, leading to dryness, flaking, and even other skin diseases.

2. Do not Lock the Door: It's recommended that elderly individuals leave the bathroom door open or have someone outside to assist them. If any unexpected incidents occur in the bathroom, they can be rescued quickly to prevent accidents.

3. Choose the Right Bathing Method: Skin functions decline with age. Therefore, middle-aged and elderly individuals should pay attention to the choice of bathing products when showering. Avoid products with high irritants and choose mild, moisturizing bath gels and shampoos to prevent damage to the skin barrier.

4. Pay Attention to Water Temperature: Water temperature is also important. Many middle-aged and elderly individuals have weaker skin immunity. Excessive water temperature can lead to excessive loss of skin lipids, exacerbating dryness, peeling, sensitivity, and other symptoms. It's recommended to keep the water temperature between 37-39 degrees Celsius.

Overall, middle-aged and elderly individuals should be aware of the above points when showering to avoid health risks arising from improper bathing. Of course, you need to adjust according to your specific situation. Scientific bathing care can better protect your skin and body.

References:

[1] "Should You Wash Your Body or Hair First?". CCTV News. 2021-08-29.

[2] "Many Bathing Tips for the Elderly, These Points Can Endanger Life! Remember 6 Precautions, Keeping Seniors Comfortable and Safe". Shanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 2024-06-25.

[3] "How Often Should You Shower? 5 Bathing Precautions for the Elderly You Shouldn't Ignore!". Linyi CDC. 2022-12-02.

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