Neurologist explains benefits of daily foot soaks for healthy people
Soaking your feet in winter, especially after a long walk, is a pleasant activity, isn«t it? However, it turns out to be very beneficial as well. Our colleagues from »Doctor Peter« looked into exactly how.
For stress and headaches
According to neurologist Ksenia Ovsyannikova, warming the feet calms the nervous system and relieves vascular spasms. Another plus: this procedure helps cleanse the lymphatic system, as there are a huge number of sweat glands — excretory ducts — on the feet.
«Our nervous system is designed in such a way that it constantly scans our internal and external state. When the regulatory systems notice distress, they begin to constrict blood vessels in the hands and feet. How does this manifest? We feel that our hands and feet are cold. And when we start to warm them intentionally, especially the feet up to the ankles, the nervous system receives a signal: there»s no need to worry, be anxious, nervous, constrict all sphincters, raise blood pressure, increase heart rate, everything is fine,«explained Ksenia Ovsyannikova in her Telegram channel.
According to the doctor, soaking feet is very useful in various situations:
if your feet are cold;
you are stressed or have experienced nervous tension;
you feel like you«re getting sick, but don»t have a fever yet;
your blood pressure has risen, but not severely — no hypertensive crisis;
you have a headache.
How long to soak
The doctor advises keeping feet in hot water for no more than 5–10 minutes a day. The main criterion: it should be pleasant, not painful or too hot. So don«t forget to monitor the water temperature, otherwise you can get burned.
If you want to enhance the cleansing effect for the lymphatic system, the doctor recommends adding ordinary salt and baking soda to the water — no more than 5 tablespoons.
Who should not soak their feet
Even such a simple and seemingly harmless procedure has its contraindications. If you have a fever, a sudden increase in blood pressure, or an exacerbation of a chronic disease, you should not soak your feet. The neurologist clarifies that contraindications also include cancer, inflammations, and actively growing benign formations in the pelvic organs.
«If these are some small fibroids, nodules, there is nothing criminal in you soaking your feet and relieving stress,»added Ksenia Ovsyannikova.
The specialist noted that foot soaking relieves spasms, including in the biliary system, so the liver will better remove metabolites of female sex hormones, which means this procedure will benefit women«s health. But there is a nuance: you should not indulge in thermal procedures during menstruation.
By the way
A hot bath is generally very beneficial, even better than a sauna. As scientists from the University of Oregon found out, immersion in water at 40.5°C (105°F) lowers blood pressure and stimulates immune reactions — a similar effect to going to the gym. It also helps with weight loss: a hot bath affects the body much like a cardio workout.
In addition, a hot bath helps strengthen the heart, reduce the risk of plaque formation in arteries, and decrease vascular stiffness. This reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. Also, regular exposure to hot water helps regulate blood sugar levels and relieve muscle pain.
