Showering after breakfast or dinner is a seemingly innocuous daily routine. The thought of any possible danger probably doesn’t cross a lot of people’s minds. But is it actually unsafe?
A TikToker, who claims to be a doctor and goes by Dr. Pan (@doctor.panfi) on the platform, shares what he says are the risks of taking a very hot shower right after eating—especially for people with certain heart conditions.
In a video with over 597,000 views, using text overlays, he writes, “Your body has to choose: digest food or regulate blood flow. It can’t do both.”
“After eating, blood rushes to the stomach. Hot shower, blood rushes to the skin surface,” he says. “Hot water, blood vessels dilate. Digestion, blood diverted to [the gut]. Heart works 3x harder. Can’t pump enough blood.”
As a result, he says it can cause “chest pain, dizziness, collapse.”
For those over 50, he says the risk is higher. Instead, he suggests waiting “30 minutes minimum” before showering. That time goes up to “45-60 minutes if [you had a large] meal.”
He shares the warning signs of a heart attack and what to do if you experience any of these.
“Dizziness in the shower, chest tightness/ pressure, shortness of breath, sudden weakness,” the content creator says. “Get out immediately. Sit down. Call for help.”
‘You Learn Something New Every Day’
This was news to many, as evident by the reactions in the comments section,
“I never knew this. Thank you for the information,” one viewer commented.
“As a heart attack survivor I never knew this,thank you!” another stated.
“Wow, i never knew this, 62 years…. learn something new every day,” a third wrote.
@doctor.panfik Never shower right after eating — this habit triggers heart attacks, especially over 50 🚿 After eating, blood rushes to your stomach for digestion. Hot shower makes blood rush to skin surface. Your heart tries to do BOTH and can’t pump enough blood. Blood pressure drops suddenly, brain and heart starved of oxygen. Wait 30-45 minutes minimum. Hot showers are highest risk. If you feel dizzy, chest pressure, or weak in the shower after eating, get out immediately. Do you shower after meals? #heartattack #hearthealth #health
Can Showering After Eating Trigger A Heart Attack?
Research on whether showering right after a meal causes any significant health risk is limited and inconclusive.
According to Healthline, digestion increases blood flow to the stomach, while hot showers can raise body temperature and widen blood vessels. This has the potential to lower blood pressure in some people—but only temporarily. “Anecdotally, people say that taking a bath or shower confuses your body because instead of that increased blood flow to your digestive tract, your body is experiencing heat-related changes caused by the water,” Healthline explains.
Therefore, hot showers can make some people feel tired or lightheaded.
Those with underlying cardiovascular conditions should be wary of extra hot showers—regardless of whether they ate prior—in general. Medical News Today notes that hot showers can stress the cardiovascular system in people with underlying heart conditions, which can potentially lead to complications.
Symptoms to watch for are dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath. To err on the side of caution, bathing in lukewarm or cold water and waiting at least 20 minutes to an hour after eating before doing so is recommended.
BroBible reached out to Dr. Pan via TikTok comment.