Linea Directa Home Insurance Cross content

Avoid this common mistake people often make during a heatwave

An expert debunks the myth surrounding cold showers at the height of summer in Spain

Facing the extreme weather that is becoming more frequent in Spain during the summer (and even beyond!), most people will go to any lengths to cool off, but popular TikTok star and pharmacist Álvaro Fernández has taken to the airwaves to caution against one popular home remedy.

"On these days when it's so hot, you think oh, great idea, I'll take a cold shower to cool off, I'm sure it's going to be great. Well, you know it's not, it's counterproductive and after a while you'll be even hotter," he explained.

According to Fernández, indulging in an icy shower will only cool you down for ten minutes at most. This is because cold water causes the blood vessels in the skin to constrict to conserve body heat. The result: you’ll soon feel even hotter than before the punishing regime.

It’s actually far more useful to shower in lukewarm water since this helps increase blood flow to the skin, which will help your body to cool down. Alternatively, an ice pack applied to the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and the upper part of the face will help remove body heat through evaporation, just like we do when we sweat.

Now read: Protect yourself this summer by recognising the symptoms of heat stroke

Image: Freepik

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)