Uncle Li is 72 years old this year, don't look at his age, but he is still a person who loves cleanliness.
After dinner that day, Uncle Li, as usual, was going to the bathroom to take a hot bath.
"Dad, are you going to take a shower again?" Uncle Li's daughter Chunhua asked with concern.
"Yes, Chunhua, I love cleanliness, and I feel uncomfortable if I don't take a bath for a day." Uncle Li replied with a smile.
"But Dad, you always take a shower immediately after dinner, which is not good for your health." Chunhua said with some concern.
"Oops, I've been washing this for decades, and there's no problem. You young people are just very particular. "Uncle Li is a little stubborn.
"Dad, we're really worried about you. I heard that taking a bath immediately after a meal can affect digestion and is not good for the body. Chunhua continued to persuade.
"Hmph, I'm so old, and my body knows best. Don't worry about it. After Uncle Li finished speaking, he walked straight into the bathroom.
Looking at Uncle Li's back, Chunhua sighed helplessly, thinking about how to get his father to get rid of this habit.
This makes one wonder, is bathing really just a simple thing for older people? Can it be washed anytime, anywhere? The doctor has something to say about this: "People over 70 years old would rather not take a bath and smell than take a bath at 4 times." "What's going on here?
Take a bath at the right time, don't take a bath during these 4 time periods
Bathing may seem simple, but for the elderly, there are many hidden health risks. Especially during the following 4 time periods, it is best for older people to avoid bathing:
01Take a shower immediately after eating
After eating, the body's digestive system begins to work busily, and a large amount of blood flows to the stomach to help digestion. If you take a bath at this time, the hot water will dilate the blood vessels throughout the body and redistribute the blood, resulting in a decrease in blood in the stomach, affecting digestion, and in the long term, it may also cause gastrointestinal diseases.
Wait at least 1-2 hours after eating before showering to allow the food to be fully digested.
02Take a bath when your blood pressure fluctuates greatly
When bathing, blood pressure temporarily drops due to the high temperature of the water, the blood vessels throughout the body dilate. For older adults with unstable blood pressure, this can lead to dizziness, palpitations, and even falls.
Bathe during periods when your blood pressure is relatively stable, such as in the morning or in the evening, and try to keep the water temperature moderate.
03Take a shower immediately after exercising
After exercise, the body's blood circulation accelerates, pores open up, and sweating more. If you take a shower immediately, especially in a cold shower, it will irritate the skin, causing the pores to close suddenly, and the sweat cannot be discharged, which can easily cause colds or other diseases.
After exercising, rest for half an hour, wait for the sweat to subside, and the body temperature to return to normal before taking a shower.
04Take a bath before going to bed
Although many people like to take a shower before bed to relax, for the elderly, taking a bath before bed may raise the body temperature and affect the quality of sleep. Especially after taking a hot bath, the blood vessels in the whole body dilate and the heartbeat increases, which makes it more difficult to sleep.
Advance the bath time to about 2 hours before bedtime to give the body enough time to return to normal body temperature.
Should the elderly take frequent baths? How often should I wash it?
For older adults, keeping their bodies clean is important, but bathing too often can also pose some problems. So, how often should the elderly take a bath?
01Adjusted according to the season
In summer, due to sweating, you can wash it once a day; In winter, the frequency can be appropriately reduced, 2-3 times a week is sufficient.
02 According to the physical condition
If the elderly are in good physical condition and have a lot of activity, the frequency of bathing can be increased appropriately; If you are in poor physical condition and have a low amount of activity, you can reduce it accordingly.
03Pay attention to the way you take a bath
When the elderly take a bath, they should avoid using too many washing products to avoid irritating the skin; The bathing time should not be too long, generally controlled at 15-20 minutes.
Middle-aged and elderly people take a bath, don't ignore these 3 points
For middle-aged and elderly people, although bathing is a small thing in daily life, it hides a lot of details that need to be paid attention to. The following four points are important matters that middle-aged and elderly people must not ignore when taking a bath:
01 The water temperature is moderate
Middle-aged and elderly people have sensitive skin, and their perception of temperature may not be as accurate as when they were young, so the choice of water temperature when bathing is particularly important.
The excessively hot water temperature will strip the skin of its natural oils, resulting in dryness, itching, and may even induce skin diseases such as dermatitis, eczema, etc. Excessively cold water temperatures can irritate the skin, causing discomfort or colds.
Keep your bath water between 37-40°C, a temperature range that is comfortable and doesn't overly irritate your skin.
02 Anti-slip measures
The bathroom is one of the wettest places in the home, and middle-aged and elderly people may not have as much balance as they did when they were younger, so they are at higher risk of slipping in the bathroom. Once you slip and fall, it can lead to serious consequences such as fractures.
Lay non-slip mats on the bathroom floor, or use non-slip slippers to increase the friction between the soles of your feet and the floor, reducing the risk of slipping.
03Good ventilation
The bathroom space is relatively closed, and if it is not ventilated for a long time, the air is easy to become dirty and the oxygen content drops. Middle-aged and elderly people may not have a strong respiratory system as when they were young, and they may feel discomfort such as chest tightness and shortness of breath when they take a bath in a closed bathroom with poor air circulation for a long time.
Keep your bathroom well ventilated by opening windows or exhaust fans before showering. If your bathroom doesn't have windows or exhaust fans, consider opening the doors regularly to keep the air fresh while bathing.
Returning to the story of Uncle Li, after the patient explanation of his family and the advice of the doctor, he finally realized that there was indeed a problem with his choice of bath time.
He decided to adjust his bathing habits and choose a more suitable time period to enjoy his "bath of the day".
Especially for people over 70 years old, taking a bath is really not something that can be done as you like. Choosing the right time and paying attention to the way and details of bathing can better protect your health. After all, health is the greatest happiness in old age.
The names mentioned in Chinese are "pseudonyms", please do not sit in the opposite number; All images in this article are licensed by Visual China.