10 Fold Higher Risk of Cardiac Arrest Following Hot Tub Bath on Colder Days

A study by researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural University, Japan has found that a hot tub bath in colder months could be dangerous for the heart. They found the rate of cardiac arrests while bathing were 10-times higher in winter than in summer. After looking at the cardiac arrest rates, it was found that cardiac arrest following bathing topped the list with 54 arrests per 10 million people per hour, followed by 10 per 10 million people per hour of exercising. �

The team studied data of nearly 11,000 cardiac arrests in the western prefecture of Osaka between 2005 and 2007.� They noted that prior to the heart attack, 22% people were sleeping, 9% were bathing, 3% were working and 0.5% people were exercising.

Scientists have not been able to establish a link why getting into a hot tub on a cold chilly day causes a rapid blood pressure drop, which stresses the heart.� However they have advised people at a higher risk to adopt preventive approaches like warming a bathroom and hallway or refraining from taking a deep, hot bath on colder days.


Source: Medindia