Naked Universe of Ana

How does a bath help you breathe while you're sick?

Added 2024-10-03 17:46:10 +0000 UTC

When I was sick and had trouble breathing, a steamy bathroom was a real lifesaver for me, and physics explains why it works.

As the temperature rises, water in the bathroom evaporates, filling the air with steam(basically, turning your bathroom into a sauna, but without the awkward eye contact with strangers). This steam moisturizes the mucous membranes in the airways, which helps to thin out the mucus. The higher the humidity, the easier it is for the water molecules to stick to the surfaces in our respiratory tract. It making the mucus less thick and easier to remove (almost like trying to get rid of a clingy ex — but at least this one doesn't text you at 3 AM).

The heat from the steam also plays an important role due to the laws of thermodynamics (you know, that whole thing about transferring energy and making sure we don’t freeze to death, at least not yet). It transfers warmth to the mucous membranes, which makes the blood vessels widen (kind of like when your stress level widens your pupils at the sight of unpaid bills), improving blood flow. Better blood circulation means more oxygen and nutrients, which helps reduce inflammation and heal tissues.

So I advise everyone to go to the bathroom, but not when you have a very high temperature;)