Millions of Americans look forward to hopping into a hot shower to wash off the grime of a long day and ease tired muscles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In fact, a recent Harris Poll found just over half of US adults prefer warm showers, while 17 percent crank the heat up as high as they can handle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The occasional blistering hot shower is likely harmless, but experts have warned consistently turning up the heat may raise the risk of heart disease, cardiac arrest and stroke<\/a>.<\/p>\n Exposure to hot water widens the blood vessels, a process known as vasodilation, to push warm blood to the skin’s surface.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the same time, blood pressure plummets, so the heart is forced to pump faster to maintain blood flow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In fact, recent studies suggest hot showers may spike heart rate by over 30 percent.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘When the body is exposed to very hot water, blood vessels near the skin begin to dilate in an effort to release heat and regulate body temperature,’ Dr Xzabia Caliste, vascular surgeon at Albany Med Health System in New York and\u00a0Society for Vascular Surgery Ambassador, told the Daily Mail.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘That shift redirects blood flow toward the skin, and in response, the heart often works harder and beats faster to maintain adequate circulation and blood pressure throughout the body.’<\/span><\/p>\n While hot showers can ease tired muscles, doctors have warned they may strain the heart over time (stock image)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"While](\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.com\/1s\/2026\/05\/22\/16\/108806191-15835711-image-a-4_1779462680445.jpg\")
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