Source
r/coldshowers•
Rogyo

Glaucoma and cold showers

I doubt anyone will know the answer to this one but I was enjoying a cold shower every since February but a couple of months ago I was diagnosed with glaucoma.

Long story short I now take eye drops to keep my eye pressure down so that I hopefully don't lose any more of my sight. Does anyone know if cold showers effects eye pressure? I haven't taken a cold shower since being diagnosed because there isn't much information on the Internet regarding this and I don't want to take any risks.

I discovered this subreddit today so thought I would ask incase anyone knew or if anyone else was in my situation.

Posted Jul 12, 2019, 7:15 PM UTC

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momlayer•

I know that cold showers can raise blood pressure. Don't know if that can be related to eye pressure

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RogyoOP•

Funnily enough, raised heart rate reduces eye pressure, meaning cardio exercise is a good thing, this surprised me.

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jdubs27x•

I found this article that may be helpful: https://www.kirkeyecenter.com/blog/how-winter-can-worsen-your-glaucoma

"Studies have suggested that extreme temperatures—hot or cold—cause an increase in pressure in the eye and overall body. One study conducted by the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon suggests that early stages of glaucoma are particularly affected by weather changes. The more extreme the weather change the higher the eye pressure and sensitivity."

I imagine this holds true for shower temperatures. Sorry buddy!

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RogyoOP•

Nooooooooo!!! Lol Thank you so much for finding this, I was about to start having them again. I am genuinely extremely grateful to you. Your googling skills far surpass mine.

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jdubs27x•

I was hoping to find something with good news :(

Maybe they will cure glaucoma someday and you can once again feel the sweet embrace of a cold shower... haha

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RogyoOP•

Lol they are amazing eh. Can't do yoga or lift heavy weights and now this... Glaucoma really does suck ass. Honestly though thanks for looking into it for me, I'm only just starting to get over the depressed stage after finding out and find nothing but depressing information whenever I try to Google what I can and can't do, end up sitting for hours reading about people's horror stories, at the point where I'm trying to avoid googling anymore about it.

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jdubs27x•

My heart goes out to you brother! That shit really sucks. Yoga, weightlifting, and cold showers are things I enjoy regularly and I can't imagine how hard it must be to have those things taken from you unexpectedly like that. Your story gives me a whole new appreciation for glaucoma. I've heard that marijuana is supposed to help, maybe look into that? I have practiced a lot of different types of yoga. Yin and hatha styles have fewer inversions (where your head is below your heart), as opposed to vinyasa style yoga. Here is a flow I found on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pQFcouhvZQ There were several videos on youtube specifically for "yoga for people with glaucoma."

Don't give up hope and keep trying to find things you enjoy that you can do safely. Consider joining a support group! No shame in it and they appear to be easy to find when I searched. Don't let anyone tell you that it's "just glaucoma". The fear of blindness and inability to do things that you used to enjoy can be devastating. Stay strong and adapt. I'm sure it will get better over time. Reach out if you need someone to talk to man! You're not alone in this!

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jdubs27x•

One last thing real quick to give ya some hope. Watch this short video from an eye doctor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObwtuqKeV5E

He's saying that weightlifting and cardio can decrease pressure. Something to look into! Probably avoid things like heavy barbell squats and deadlifts though... not sure.

Definitely avoid the Valsava maneuver i.e. holding your breath while lifting. Just continue to slowly inhale/exhale during the eccentric/concentric phases to prevent to reduce an increase in pressure. Hope this helps!

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NotRhyme•

Ask your doctor if you should avoid cold weather or swimming. If they look at you funny then you’re probably fine. ^_^

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RogyoOP•

Lol he said he doesn't usually advise any lifestyle changes and just to make sure I take my drops and come to my regular appointments.

When I Googled what to avoid, coffee was one of the results as it can increase eye pressure but when i asked the Dr about coffee he said he has never advised anyone not to drink it. I am going to ask him about cold showers next time but have a feeling he will say the same as he did about coffee.

I know holding your breath increases eye pressure so underwater swimming probably isn't a good idea. Also yoga positions where your head goes down can double eye pressure so pretty gutted that I can't do yoga anymore.

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RogyoOP•

When irreversible blindness is possible I want to take zero risks. But I did love cold showers, I genuinely grew to look forward to them.

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RogyoOP•

I can't believe that I have found such a great, friendly and helpful community on reddit that I might have to leave because I can't take part, ain't life a bitch.

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Starter91•

Cold shower impact depends on how long you do it what are your dimensions as person height weight width your weight. What happens during cold shower is your blood vessels shrink then they expand depends on temperature how fast they do etc one guy mentioned pressure when vessels take their normal size again I don't see how it could impact your eye condition the temperature changes has to be really dramatic for any vessel to pop then again our bodies are different but I think you will be ok. no worries.

Edit: you need extra blood flow to eyes anyway because in our day and time we don't get enough of it static office jobs etc. Do you get that extra flow back from temperature change after body adapts on normal temperature after cold showers why not. People in my country for example go to sauna and then jump in cold water haven't heard a lethal case . People think our bodies are weak but I don't think that's the case.

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RogyoOP•

This is why I'm in two minds about it all, because cardio is good for eye pressure because increased heart rate helps the fluid drain behind your eyes which releases the pressure.

So part of me thinks it will be good for it while the other part thinks it will be bad. You can't feel eye pressure so no way to know. I'd love to know someone with a home eye pressure test device (they cost like 3k) so that I could ask them to do various things and check the impact.

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blackreaper709•

After a few minutes your heart rate dropas dramatically. It goes from really fast to really slow. I'm pretty sure thats not good for the pressure on your eyes. I'd just play it safe man. Your eyesight is not replaceble

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RogyoOP•

Thanks for looking into this for me, I'm truly gutted that I might not be able to enjoy any more cold showers, I really did feel more confident and happier all day after having one every morning.

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