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| - Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by Dr Priyamvada
Quick Take
A post on Facebook suggests that bathing incorrectly can increase your stroke risk. We did the fact check and termed it as False.
The Claim
According to a post on Facebook, incorrect bathing practices like dipping/wetting the head first can increase the risk of stroke. It further suggests that you should dip/wet your feet first to avoid that risk.
Fact Check
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. Brain cells begin to die within minutes. Strokes are medical emergencies, and prompt treatment is essential to reduce brain damage and other complications.
Strokes are categorised into two main types:
- Ischemic Stroke: This is the most common type, accounting for about 87% of all strokes. It occurs when blood vessels supplying blood to the brain are obstructed by blood clots, leading to insufficient blood flow to the brain.
- Hemorrhagic Stroke: This occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to bleeding in or around the brain. This can cause pressure on brain cells, damaging them.
What exactly causes a stroke?
Several risk factors can contribute to the likelihood of having a stroke. These include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart diseases
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Personal or family history of stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor diet
- Age (the risk of stroke increases with age)
- Race (African Americans are at a greater risk of stroke)
These risk factors can damage blood vessels, leading to the conditions that cause strokes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), strokes are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. High blood pressure and tobacco use are the most significant modifiable risk factors for stroke. Regulating blood pressure could save four out of every ten people who die of stroke. Among those under 65, two-fifths of stroke deaths are linked to smoking. Other important risk factors include atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and heart attacks. While the incidence of stroke is declining in many developed countries due to better control of high blood pressure and reduced smoking rates, the absolute number of strokes is increasing because of the ageing population.
Does pouring water on your head first increase stroke risk?
No, pouring water on your head first does not increase stroke risk. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim. The assertion is based on an incorrect understanding of how strokes occur and the factors that increase stroke risk. The main causes of strokes are related to long-term health conditions and lifestyle factors. The practice of wetting your head first when bathing does not affect blood flow in a manner that would lead to a stroke. Strokes are usually the result of prolonged high blood pressure, blood clots, or burst blood vessels, not the temperature or order in which you pour water on your body.
Moreover, a thorough review of the Canadian Medical Association Journal found no evidence to support the claim that bathing incorrectly increases stroke risk. Leading health organisations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Health Service (NHS) provide comprehensive information on stroke risk factors, but none mention the sequence of bathing as a risk.
We asked Dr Preeti, MD Medicine, Assistant Professor, Department Of Medicine, Government Institute Of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, for her take on bathing and the risk of stroke. She says, “Contrary to popular belief, there is no scientific evidence linking the sequence of bathing to an increased risk of stroke. The primary risk factors for strokes are chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Focusing on these factors is crucial for stroke prevention.”
Can a healthy person have a stroke?
Yes, a healthy person can have a stroke, though it is less common. Strokes can occur due to sudden changes in health or undiagnosed conditions. Factors such as genetic predisposition (family history), undetected heart issues, or sudden blood vessel abnormalities can lead to strokes in seemingly healthy individuals.
Strokes in healthy individuals are rare but can happen. For example, a condition called patent foramen ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart that didn’t close the way it should after birth, can cause strokes even in young, healthy people. Other conditions like arterial dissections (tears in the artery wall) and certain blood disorders can also lead to strokes in healthy individuals.
How to know if a stroke is coming?
Identifying the signs of a stroke can save lives. The acronym BE FAST is a simple way to remember the main symptoms:
- Balance: Sudden loss of balance or coordination.
- Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
- Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
- Time to call emergency services: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if they go away, call emergency services immediately.
Additional symptoms can include sudden confusion, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dizziness, and a sudden severe headache with no known cause.
In conclusion, the claim that incorrect bathing can increase your stroke risk is not true. Leading health organisations, medical experts and doctors unanimously agree that the claim is false and that the sequence of bathing does not affect stroke risk. To reduce the risk of stroke, it is important to focus on well-established prevention methods such as managing blood pressure and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, minimising alcohol consumption, and having regular check-ups. It’s very common to find false claims on social media that rely on fear-mongering and misinformation to gain reach, such as packaged milk causing cancer, pinching the fingertips to prevent stroke, or drinking cold water causing stroke. These claims remain false, just like the claim that incorrect bathing can increase stroke risk.
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