When should you avoid cold baths?

Author: Myah Miller  |  Last update: Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Ice baths can help easing soreness after exercise. The cold makes your blood vessels tighten and may lessen muscle damage and inflammation. If you're a more serious athlete, you may want to skip the ice bath after strength training, though. Researchers have found that the cold water slows muscle growth.

Who should not take cold baths?

Check with your doctor beforehand, as cold plunges can have negative and potentially dangerous effects on people who have medical conditions like:
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Peripheral neuropathy.
  • Poor circulation.
  • Venous stasis.
  • Cold agglutinin disease.

Who should not do cold plunges?

Powell, a vascular surgeon, says cold plunging is safe if you're reasonably fit and have no history of arrhythmias, high blood pressure, diabetes, poor circulation or heart problems. He also advises that anyone with Raynaud's phenomenon, which causes decreased blood flow to the fingers, avoid cold plunging.

When is the best time to have a cold bath?

A popular time for an ice bath is first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up. This helps get you ready for your day by switching you on and releasing all the feel-good hormones in your brain to lift your mood in the morning.

Is it bad to ice bath when sick?

If you're not feeling well and have doubts about doing your cold exposure, always talk to your doctor. But there's one clear rule that's useful to know. If you have flu-like symptoms with a fever, don't get into the water. Focus on breathwork and meditation techniques that will help you recover instead.

All the Ways Ice Baths Affect the Body | WIRED

Is it bad to cold plunge if you have a cold?

A general rule of thumb is this: if your illness is affecting your respiratory system (such as a cold or flu), it's wise to skip the cold plunge. However, if your illness is more mild and doesn't involve congestion, fever, or severe fatigue, you can cautiously consider a cold plunge but monitor how your body reacts.

Can I take a cold bath if I have a fever?

Self-treatment suggestions for fever

Avoid alcohol, tea and coffee as these drinks can cause slight dehydration. Sponge exposed skin with tepid water. To boost the cooling effect of evaporation, you could try standing in front of a fan. Avoid taking cold baths or showers.

What not to do after a cold bath?

Don't - Heat Up Too Quickly

If you want to take advantage of this mechanism try not to towel off, take a hot shower, or put on warm clothes immediately after an ice bath. This is decidedly difficult, so don't fret too much if you can't quite conquer this feat.

How cold is too cold for a cold bath?

Yes, an ice bath can be harmful if the water is too cold. Exposure to extreme cold can cause frostbite, hypothermia, and other injuries. It's important to avoid temperatures below 50°F (10°C) and to listen to your body.

Is 2 ice baths a day too much?

Generally speaking, most fitness experts agree that the average number of ice baths you want to expose yourself, to per week, should top out at between 2-3 plunges, after which the benefits you receive become substantially less noticeable and may place excessive strain on the body.

What are the negatives to cold plunges?

The most obvious drawback is the cold and discomfort, although frequent plungers report becoming more comfortable and tolerant of the cold with regular exposure. Depending on the environment, such as plunging into an ice- and snow-covered lake, you also may be at risk for frostbite.

Why do I feel sick after a cold plunge?

If you jump into cold water too fast, it can shock your body and cause problems with your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, or mental state. If you stay in cold water for too long, your body temperature could dip so low that you get hypothermia. You could also get numbness in your limbs or frostbite.

Do cold plunges burn fat?

Taking a cold plunge in an Ice Barrel can activate the brown adipose and muscles in your body. Once activated, irisin and FGF will be released (irisin and FGF are cold-induced endocrine activators of brown fat function in humans). These two hormones burn up the white fat tissues resulting in weight loss.

What happens after 30 days of cold showers?

Taking cold showers every day for 30 days may lead to increased energy levels and alertness as well as improved overall health. Your skin and hair may feel and look better due to the reduced drying and irritating effects of a hot shower. However, remember, individual responses to cold therapy vary.

Why do I feel tired after a cold plunge?

If you're feeling more tired than usual, your body could be struggling to recover from the cold-induced stress. While cold plunges are intended to invigorate and refresh, too much exposure can have the opposite effect, leaving you feeling drained and exhausted instead of rejuvenated.

Can cold showers make anxiety worse?

Cold water can induce a relaxation response and reduce the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, resulting in a sense of calm and reduced anxiety. Exposure Therapy and Resilience Building: Taking cold showers involves intentionally exposing oneself to discomfort or stress.

Why do I feel dizzy after sauna and cold plunge?

The sauna causes blood vessels to dilate, and the cold plunge causes them to constrict rapidly. This sudden redistribution of blood flow in your body can potentially make you feel dizzy.

How long does Joe Rogan stay in cold Plunge?

His ice bath routine involves filling up a bathtub with cold water and adding a few bags of ice to bring the temperature down to around 50°F (10°C). Rogan then submerges himself in the ice bath for 10-20 minutes. Joe also uses his cold plunge pro by Sun Home at his home for daily ice baths.

How long should you stay in a cold bath?

How long should you ice bath for? Research shows that you get the most benefit from cold treatment if you immerse yourself for up to 20 minutes.

What should I do immediately after an ice bath?

Slowly Begin the Warm-up Process: Drying Off and Covering Up

To prevent this, take your time to dry off thoroughly and wear warm, comfortable clothing immediately after the ice bath. Wrapping yourself in a cozy towel or robe and wearing dry socks can help retain body heat and initiate a gentle warming process.

Why wear a hat in an ice bath?

A hat will keep your head warm and comfortable throughout the experience, helping you to relax and reap the benefits. There are many different types of hats you can wear during your ice water experience, from woollen beanies to swim caps.

Who should not use ice baths?

“An ice bath can cause reduction in blood flow to the extremities in peripheral vascular disease; increase in blood pressure in those with high blood pressure and increased risk of hypothermia in patients with impaired ability to regulate body temperature — as may be the case with poorly-controlled diabetes,” said Dr ...

Does blowing your nose help get rid of a cold faster?

While blowing your nose can relieve congestion, it does not shorten the illness's duration. Embracing a combination of rest, hydration, and appropriate remedies can more effectively alleviate cold symptoms. Always remember to blow your nose gently to avoid adverse effects.

Is 99 a fever?

But don't worry if your temperature hits 99.8 degrees – you probably don't have a fever. 99 degrees isn't usually considered a fever. But if you have other symptoms like cough, congestion or a runny nose, you may be sick.

Is it better to take a hot or cold bath when you're sick?

Take a Lukewarm Bath

A lukewarm, not hot, bath can help reduce a fever and relax you so you can sleep better. 3 Be sure to get out of the tub once the water starts to cool. Avoid taking a cold bath or shower, and avoid using ice.

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