Why you should have Cold Showers and Cold Train 

And it's great for your hair and pores too.

Hey Eve! I have low BP as a result of a congenital heart condition (plus I've delt with a lot of stress/anxiety/panic attacks for varying reasons). Here are a few things that I do that I've found help with all of these problems. 1. Make sure you're drinking enough fluids, water preferably. Increasing your fluid intake increases your blood volume (amount of blood in the body) which can help increase your BP, since your heart has to move a greater volume of blood. Drinking cool water (not ice cold) also helps me feel less stressed out (don't really know the science behind that one) but maybe it'll help you too. Pro tip: find a water bottle that you like and is easy to carry and just take it everywhere with you. I have a special one that I refer to as my emotional support water bottle, haha. 2. Try to do something physical that elevates your heart rate for at least 10 minutes a day. This can be going for a walk, doing star jumps in your living room or taking a flight of stairs instead of the elevator. Increasing your heart rate mimics the "fight or flight" response that Stuart talked about in the video. As you "recover" from the physical exertion (your heart rate comes down, you're not breathing so hard), your stress levels drop as your body/brain perceive that the "threat" is over, usually dropping lower to what they were before the physical exertion. Physical exertion = the eustress also mentioned in the video, which means it will produce endorphins, which are hormones released by the neurotransmitter noradrenaline/norepinephrine that are notorious for making you feel better (they attach to the opiate receptors in the brain). Physical exertion also helps elevate BP by increasing your heart rate, which will cause the heart to push blood with more force. As you continue to exercise regularly, your heart muscle will grow stronger and pump with more force even when you're not physically exerting yourself, which will keep your BP higher. Also, try not to overheat when exercising, as being warm causes your blood vessels to expand in order to let off heat which will drop your BP. 3. This may just be a me thing, but wake up slowly in the mornings. I do this by setting my alarm for 20-30 minutes *before* I plan on getting out of bed. I have several alarms that go off intermittently between that time that I rouse for to turn off. I know this goes against pretty much everything that sleep experts recommend, but for me it's much nicer and far less stressful to be coaxed out of my slumber gradually instead of getting yanked out of bed. It also helps with my BP. When you sleep, your body is in a state of relaxation and your BP can get quite low. Waking up gradually gives your body systems time to power up and get back online before your feet ever hit the floor, ergo elevating your BP. If I jump out of bed in the morning without allowing my body to adjust, my BP will plummet (technical term is orthostatic hypotension) and I may even pass out, and then I'll be pissed off for the rest of the day which is no good for my stress/anxiety levels! You don't have to lay in bed like I do, you could also sit on the edge of the bed for a couple minutes and you'll be alright. Just try to give yourself the best start to the day that you possibly can. Hope some of this helps!

@@katesampleseverything Thanks so much for your long reply! 1. and 3. are things I already do (bought a special alarm clock that wakes me very slowly through light). Unfortunately, I can't do any physical exercises at the moment. Sometimes I don't even manage to walk a few metres without severe breathing issues. Especially cold and humid weather makes it worse. The only thing I can imagine is some stretching or yoga exercises for a maximum of five minutes. I guess I just have to be patient and do everything step by step. Thanks again, and all the best for you!

@@evefromparadise3133 Of course! If you're stretching, maybe try to focus on slow, deep breathing (all the way in/out). All the best! I'm cheering for you!

@@katesampleseverything Thank you!

@Eve Fromparadise Hi again! I heard from a physio today that hand grip exercises (like with a squishy ball or putty) are a good, low impact way to normalise BP! They also help reduce stress/anxiety because of the deep pressure on the pressure points in the palm of your hands

Just take cold showers

@@lunaskisses Thanks! I'm going to start with that. 🙌🏻

You will NOT regret it!! It is life changing, and great for the hearing bill!

@@stephaniebeauchamp2581 the only downside I’m noticing is that I’m getting headaches from the cold water on the top of my head. I wonder if that’s just because I’m not use to it 🤔

I am unsure but I have noticed the biggest shock for me is my head so I start by wetting my face, then with the water to my neck, then up? Could that potentially help? On really cold winter days I use a wash cloth on my face first. But sure why you did get one... So interesting!

Nice to meet you by the way!

@@stephaniebeauchamp2581 nice to meet you as well ☺️ and thanks for the tips. I’ll try it out and see if it helps.

❤️

Just joking arnd