A striking post is going viral online, wherein an “unnamed Norwegian cardiologist” reportedly reviewed more than 800 cases of strokes in men aged 30-50 and found that 74% of them had taken cold morning showers. Even more provocatively, the post claims that “67% of morning strokes occur in the bathroom”. The implication is chilling: a wellness trend popularised for vitality may, under certain conditions, be triggering strokes. But before rushing to conclusions, it is important to understand the nuance. When you expose your body suddenly to cold water, especially if you are un-acclimatised, you trigger what experts call a “cold shock” response: a rapid surge in heart rate and blood pressure, peripheral vasoconstriction, and heightened sympathetic nervous system activity. According to an

See Full Page