Health & Life

Benefits of Winter Foot Soaking that These 5 Groups Should Avoid

Soaking your feet has numerous health benefits. However, not everyone is suitable for this activity.

13 December, 2023

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Benefits of Foot Soaking

Foot soaking is a simple process. You can use warm water or water infused with herbs to soak your feet. When the feet are soaked in warm water, it dilates the arteries and capillaries on the skin. At this time, blood containing nutrients can easily circulate and create a comfortable, pleasant feeling.

Soaking your feet in warm water also helps improve sleep quality. When the feet are soaked, blood circulation in this area is stimulated. The amount of blood in the brain decreases somewhat and makes us more sleepy. In addition, foot soaking also helps to have a deeper sleep.

Foot soaking in warm water not only helps promote blood circulation but also has the effect of reducing muscle tension and relieving pain.

5 Groups of People Who Shouldn’t Soak Their Feet in Warm Water

Although foot soaking in warm water brings many health benefits, not everyone should do it.

People with diabetes

People with diabetes often have soft and weak foot skin, and most of the nerve endings can’t sense temperature like healthy people. Therefore, people with diabetes may not be able to detect that the foot soaking water is at too high a temperature and can cause burns. When burned, if not treated in time, the wound can become ulcerated and extremely dangerous.

People with varicose veins or arterial occlusion

People with these conditions have problems with blood flow, especially those with varicose veins or malfunctioning venous valves.

People with these conditions soaking their feet may increase blood volume but do not change the rate of blood flow in reverse. Instead, it increases pressure on the blood vessel wall and makes the condition more severe.

People with fungal infections

People with fungal infections soaking their feet in warm water not only cannot eliminate bacteria, but also cause more itching and discomfort. Especially, if someone has a foot wound and then soaks their feet in warm water, they may get infected.

Children

Children soaking their feet in warm water can loosen foot ligaments, affecting the development of the arch of the foot, increasing the risk of flat feet.

People with cardiovascular diseases

People with cardiovascular diseases already have reduced heart function and poor blood supply. If they soak their feet in warm water, the capillaries will dilate, causing more blood to flow down to the feet. At that time, important organs in the body such as the heart and brain may experience a lack of blood and oxygen, leading to symptoms such as chest tightness, dizziness, shortness of breath… More seriously, foot soaking for this group of people can increase the risk of fainting and stroke.