Doctor says showering at this specific time forces your body to make an impossible choice, and the consequences could be serious

A TikTok creator who claims to be a doctor is warning people not to take hot showers right after eating. Dr. Pan, who uses the handle @doctor.panfi on the platform, says this common habit could lead to serious health problems. His video has gone viral and left many viewers shocked about something they do every day.

According to Bro Bible, Dr. Pan explains that when you shower with hot water right after a meal, your body faces two demands at once. He says your body has to choose between digesting food or regulating blood flow, and it can’t do both at the same time. This creates a dangerous situation that puts extra strain on your heart.

After you eat, blood flows to your stomach to help digest food. But when you step into hot water, your blood vessels open up and blood rushes to your skin to cool you down. Your heart has to work three times harder than normal to pump blood to both places. Dr. Pan warns on his TikTok video that eventually, your heart can’t pump enough blood to handle both tasks.

The strain on your heart can cause frightening symptoms

This extra work on your heart can lead to chest pain, dizziness, and even fainting. The risk is higher for people over 50 or anyone with heart problems. Dr. Pan says if you feel sudden weakness, dizziness, chest tightness, pressure, or trouble breathing in the shower, you should get out right away, sit down, and call for help.

To stay safe, Dr. Pan recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after eating before taking a shower. If you ate a big meal, like a holiday dinner, you should wait 45 to 60 minutes instead. Just like protective dogs watching over their space, your body has built-in warning signs that you need to pay attention to.

However, there isn’t much research to prove that showering right after eating causes major health risks. This isn’t a widely accepted medical rule yet, but the body changes Dr. Pan describes are real. Digestion does increase blood flow to the stomach, and hot water does raise body temperature and widen blood vessels.

The body might get confused when it needs to send blood to the digestive system but is also dealing with heat from the water. This can temporarily lower blood pressure in some people.

If you have heart problems, very hot showers can be risky no matter when you take them. Medical News Today says hot showers can stress the heart in people who already have cardiovascular issues. Experts urge people to take health warnings more seriously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular risks. 

To be safe, you should use lukewarm or cold water for bathing. If you want a hot shower, waiting 20 minutes to an hour after eating is a smart choice. Many viewers had no idea about this risk, with one person commenting: “wow, i never knew this, 62 years…. learn something new every day.”