Winter Bathing Safety: How to Avoid Heat Stroke, Dizziness, and Falls

Though taking a bath might seem innocuous, there are potential dangers in bathing during the cold winter months.

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3/5/2025Updated: 3/11/2025

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Taking a bath in the cold winter brings some potential dangers. Taiwanese cardiologist Dr. Liu Zhongping recently said in NTDTV’s “Health 1+1” program that we should pay more attention to the water temperature and duration when taking a bath in winter and keep the bathroom ventilated. If symptoms such as dizziness or a rapid heartbeat arise, it’s time to get out of the tub.

In December 2024, 54-year-old Japanese singer and actress Miho Nakayama died suddenly because of an accident while taking a bath at home. Knowing how to bathe safely is essential.

Potential Dangers of Bathing

According to Liu, the bathroom can be a hazardous place, with risks such as drowning, slips, and falls. One key concern is that bathing is generally a private activity, during which people may not be checked on for an extended period. Additionally, bathroom doors are typically locked, making it difficult for others to intervene quickly in the event of an accident.

When one takes a bath, said Liu, the warm environment causes the body to sweat, leading to dehydration, dizziness, and frailty. As a natural resistance to heat, the body will also activate certain metabolic mechanisms, making one feel fatigued, which could lead to loss of control in the bathtub. Bathtubs can also be slippery, which increases the risk of drowning.

Extended periods in an environment of elevated temperature may cause heat stroke, leaving one feeling confused and slow in response to dangers.

In addition, taking a bath after a large meal or drinking alcohol may cause drowsiness, decrease reaction alertness, and increase the risk of accidents.

An autopsy investigation of sudden bath-related deaths in Japan examined more than 3,000 bath-related death cases. The study found that the majority occurred in winter and among those more than 60 years old, with nearly 80 percent of the deaths by drowning. Among the contributing causes of death, more than half had circulatory system diseases, among which heart disease was the most common. A quarter of the deceased had blood alcohol content that exceeded 0.5 mg/mL, which can lead to a decline in cognitive and motor performance.

When to Avoid Baths

Liu suggested caution when bathing for specific people and conditions.

1. After Drinking

Taking a bath after drinking may cause the body to overheat, become dehydrated, lower blood pressure, and lead to blurred consciousness. In this situation, the body coordination and response will be slowed, making it easy to fall in the bathtub or drown.

2. Low Blood Pressure or Cardiovascular Disease

Taking a hot bath dilates the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure, making it easier for people to feel dizzy or fall. In some patients with cardiovascular disease, their blood vessels will suddenly contract and expand when exposed to alternating hot and cold environments, making them prone to accidents.

3. Those Over 70 Years Old

Older people do not have the same body temperature regulation ability as younger people and are more easily affected in warm environments, so bathing time should be short or avoided altogether.

Heat Stroke First Aid

Heat stroke can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, coma, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other adverse reactions. It can also cause inflammation and damage the function of the immune system and organs such as the liver and kidney, which can be life-threatening.

Liu said that if you encounter heat stroke or any physical discomfort caused by hot temperatures, the priority is to find ways to cool down quickly. It is of utmost importance to remove the person from the hot environment as quickly as possible and cool him or her quickly—inside and out.

For external cooling, rinse the body with cold water or wipe with a cold towel.

For internal cooling, if the person is still conscious, have him or her drink cold water or ice water. A physician might use a nasogastric tube to infuse cold or ice water to help cool down the gastrointestinal tract.

8 Tips for Safe Bathing in Winter

Liu suggests the following for safely taking a bath:

1. Have warm, dry clothes nearby. Putting on clean clothes in the bathroom immediately after a bath helps avoid a sudden drop in body temperature when dressing outside the bathroom.

2. Warm your body slowly. Turn on the hot water first and let the bathroom temperature rise before taking off your clothes. You can take a brief shower with warm water first to allow your body to adapt before entering a hotter bath. Another option is to first immerse your hands and feet in hot water to allow your body to gradually adjust to the water temperature.

3. Create a warm environment. An environment where hot and cold fluctuate widely poses a threat to the cardiovascular system. Studies have found that temperature changes greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit increase the risk of acute ischemic stroke.

4. Keep the room ventilated. Avoid oxygen deficiency or excessive humidity, which can make people feel dizzy.

5. Keep water level below the chest. For long baths, the water level should not exceed that of the chest. The heart is the main center for heat dissipation. If the water level goes beyond the chest, it will affect heat dissipation.

6. Control water temperature and soaking time. The maximum water temperature should not exceed 108 degrees Fahrenheit, and the soaking time should not exceed 10 minutes. You can set a timer to be sure.

7. Intermittent bathing. After every 10 minutes of soaking, you should leave the bath for a while to let your body cool down. Always keep warm when leaving to avoid a sudden drop in body temperature.

8. Wait for at least one hour after a meal. Taking a bath too soon after eating can disrupt the digestive process.

9. Don’t drink and bathe. Avoid taking a bath after drinking alcohol.