"Nausea and dizziness too"... An unexpected action to avoid after eating?

There are certain actions you should never do unconsciously after a meal. The most common one is lying down. If you lie down immediately after eating, it not only hampers proper digestion but also makes it easier to gain weight. However, besides lying down, another surprisingly risky behavior is taking a hot water shower. Taking a hot shower right after a meal can slow down digestion and cause issues such as heartburn or dizziness. Let's take a closer look at what health problems a hot water shower right after eating can cause.

◇Reduced blood flow slows digestion, causing the body to focus on digestion after a meal. To do this, blood flow to the stomach and intestines must increase. This blood delivers oxygen and nutrients necessary for the digestive organs to efficiently break down food. The more blood directed to the gastrointestinal tract, the better the performance of the digestive system. At this time, taking a hot shower causes blood vessels to dilate due to heat. This dilation of skin blood vessels leads to more blood being drawn to the body's surface, lowering body temperature. As a result, the amount of blood available for digestion decreases. Consequently, the digestive system may not function efficiently, slowing down the breakdown of food. This redistribution of blood can cause slower digestion or excessive feelings of fullness, as the stomach receives insufficient blood supply for proper digestion.

◇ When muscles relax, it can cause heartburn. Taking a hot shower can have a relaxing effect that slows digestion. When the body is exposed to heat, muscles, including those in the digestive tract, relax. This can decrease the speed of food processing and increase the time food stays in the stomach. If food remains in the stomach longer, gas can accumulate, leading to uncomfortable fullness or bloating, and delayed digestion can cause stomach acid to reflux into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms like heartburn. Especially after overeating or consuming greasy foods, nausea can become more severe.

◇Risk of Dizziness Due to Blood Pressure Drop Taking a hot shower can temporarily lower blood pressure. However, during digestion, blood is directed to the stomach, which can lead to a decreased blood supply to other areas, including the brain, due to increased demand for blood to cool the skin. Insufficient blood flow to the brain can cause dizziness. This is especially true if you move suddenly during a shower. In severe cases, although rare, it can lead to fainting.

<Source: Health Chosun>