University of Basel Dissertation Suggests Cold Showers May Reduce Sick Days
A dissertation from the University of Basel indicates that individuals who adopted a 12-week cold-shower routine experienced a 26% reduction in illness days and a 31% decrease in sickness absence compared to those who continued taking warm showers. These findings are based on a pooled analysis of three randomized trials conducted in Switzerland, involving 719 participants. Researchers collected monthly reports from participants regarding the number of days they felt ill and the number of workdays missed due to illness. The cold-shower routines varied across the studies but generally involved daily cold showers over the 12-week period, with some instructions specifying showers ending with a period at the coldest setting. While overall well-being reportedly improved, physical well-being showed only a trend toward improvement. The study's authors acknowledge that the trials were unblinded, meaning participants were aware of their assigned shower routine, and data relied on participant recollections, which can...
