Blood Pressure

[Stu2630]

This is NOT intended to be a controversial point, so please take it at face value and don't read into what I say below which are not intended.

Does anyone know if there has been any research into the effects of nudism on blood pressure? If it could be shown that nudism contributes significantly to a lowering of blood pressure, and from what people here tell me I suspect it might, then that could be a great selling point to attract more people and argue for more facilities on medical grounds!

There are millions of people in the western world particularly who suffer from hypertension and it's known as the "silent killer", so this could be a great way to encourage newcomers, and new money, into nudism. Imagine the benefits nudism could derive if it was endorsed by doctors as conferring potentially life-saving benefits.

Just an idea I had so please don't attack me.

Stu

[Qikdraw]

Its an interesting idea, maybe CFI should look into getting grant money from teh government to research it. I am perfectly willing to be a test subject. Fly me around the world to visit nude resorts and beaches to figure out which one reduces my blood pressure the most... Yes I will go through that hardship. :D

Kidding aside, that is an interesting question. I know when I got to nude resorts I get completely relaxed, both my wife & I prefer nude vacations now because we get so relaxed.

[Running Bear]

I am working with naturist yoga. We work on spinal alignment and I perceive that on safety aspects naked allows a teacher to directly observe spinal alignment, including pelvic position, without being obscured by clothes. There is some evidence in research that yoga does reduce blood pressure by promoting body self study and purification. From my personal viewpoint I perceive that a naturist class is far more relaxed than a textile one but that may be subject to bias as that is what I look for.
This is a subject I will be researching personally but probably only anecdotally.
I already sell myself using the health benefits flag.
Good question!
Edit: Added following thread on research protocols.
Incidentally, I have some training in evidence based medicine research but doubt that such a small study as mine would be statistically relevant and the time constraints would be prohibitive unless I was paid for it. Any conclusions I reached would only be my personal opinions and are unlikely to be reproducible by another individual. The whole research would be loaded with researcher bias which is very difficult to exclude. One yoga paper stated that from two groups those that had some yoga benefited while those that did not felt more stresses. Ignoring the tool used for the analysis of stress the problem I saw was that the paper failed to address that the sample would have felt better because somebody paid them attention and were interested and they could have just visited the local cinema to obtain the same results. Was the yoga isolated? No.

[jon71]

Any doctor would say that relaxing and avoiding stress is a good way to control blood pressure (along with a healthy diet and exercise). Many people find naturism relaxing. That pretty much establishes that for some at least it should have a little health benefit.

[bare-belly]

Frankly Stu, I am shocked to hear this viewpoint coming from you, since so often you have come off as a militant anti-nudist. But since this is such a change for the better, I certainly will not attack you, and doubt that anyone else here would.

Of course, recreational naturists have been aware of the health benefits for at least a hundred years, maybe thousands in some cultures. How else would anyone in India take a yoga class, in Japan a hot tub, in Greece a massage, in Sweden a sauna(to name a few)? At those times, to not be naked is to defy reason, and to lessen the health effect.

Bare-Belly

[Stu2630]

bare-belly

I'm not anti-nudist at all - I just want there to be a clear distinction between nudist places and non-nudist places which everyone respects.

My gut feeling is that nudism would probably lower the blood pressure of many people, although I have no evidence of this and would be interested to find out if it is the case. Of course, for those of us who are not comfortable either being nude, or being around nude people, it would probably have the reverse effect. Nevertheless, I think it would be worth exploring this as it could supply strong medical approval for nudism and that could only be a good thing for the nudist movement.

I would say you need to be a bit careful about making assumptions as to what happens elsewhere in the world. I would wager you would find that almost all yoga classes in India are taken clothed. As for saunas, I was in Denmark last month and enjoyed a sauna as part of a swimming complex. It was mixed and costumes were compulsory. The last time I was in Sweden there was a sauna in the hotel (in Sweden it's called a basta, not a sauna) - again it was mixed and everyone in there covered themselves with very large towels and there was no "exposure" as such.

Stu

[garbo]

Having retired from an extremely high stress government job several years ago, I was suffering from hypertension and depression. I was looking at an undetermined amount of therapy and meds. My life-long friend and nudist advocate, Barbara Ruth, suggested one day to join her and some friends at the local nudist resort for a "relaxing" day. I could not resist! When I got home my BP was down considerably and I felt terrific. Jokingly, she said that nudism is the best natural seritonin inducer on the market! Now, having adopted a steady dose of nudism in my routine has reaped both social and medical benefits as well. I am off my depression and blood pressure meds altogether.

[naturalmanwa]

I certainly know that being naked helps me to relax, and it has for years. I am currently on meds for blood pressure (mine is low), so even with stress I still need them.

[Kari P]

Minor notes:

bare-belly, Instead of Sweden, Finland is known as the homeland of modern saunas. Actually, the Finns cannot claim that the sauna is their invention because it's a very old thing. However, the Finns are a nation that have had their own kind of saunas and sauna culture for centuries, and the word "sauna" itself is a Finnish word.

Stu, The Swedish word for sauna is "bastu".

[Stu2630]

KariP

Stu, The Swedish word for sauna is "bastu".

Of course it is - sorry - I have a new Apple Mac with a different keyboard and I must have made a typo.

Stu

[NudeAl]

Very interesting idea. I do not know of any studies however I think it would be something to investigate. I know that I feel very relaxed and stress free when I am nude at a beach or club or even just laying out in my back yard. If feeling relaxed and stress free can be considered linked to lower BP well then who knows?

[JeepNude]

Stu,

I have some person experience to share. You may choose to call if 'proof' if you like.

When I am clothed, particularly for business, my blood pressure rises. My wife works in the healthcare industry and keeps a close eye on it for me. Reason is, when I was only 37, I had a stroke. Luckily, after 6 months of physical therapy, I am back to nearly 100%.

Back on topic....

When I am clothed, my blood pressure is 15-20 points higher. Unclothed, and without medication, I can hover around 121/84 on average. Clothed, it jumps to (monthly average) 150/90. I have to take medication to control my blood pressure, but if I am going to stay nude for a few days, I don't take it and it stays well within the normal range. Keep in mind, I was raised in a nudist family, I am not new to this.

When I am wearing clothes, I feel trapped like a straight jacket or restraints. I notice that I move differently too due to the limitations of the clothing's ability to move. After some time, my skin becomes irritated and if I wear clothes long enough, I can even get a slight rash. I also notice poor circulation in my extremities if I keep a lot of clothes on. I can actually feel the stress level rise as I try to move with clothing restricting me. When I feel my own sweat being held against my skin my clothing, I get a sick-to-my-stomach feeling and get a little grossed out if I think about it. If I am perspiring a lot, and I feel the sweat soaked cloth on me, it grosses me out to where if I don't block it out of my mind, I feel like gagging. Once I am finally able to remove the clothing, I sometimes feel like a shower isn't enough to cleanse myself. I also get a lot of muscle aches and backaches from the way I have to move to cope with the clothing mobility restrictions. And, lastly, if I have been wearing pants (like jeans) that have minimal room for my testicles, I have a lot of testicular soreness and pain from the un-natural pushing against my testicles from the clothing.

In my case, I believe that forcing clothing on my body falls into the category of cruelty. I cannot feel comfortable if there is anything tugging against my skin in any areas. Perhaps I am just more aware of it because I have been nude more than clothed most of my life. I really feel each fiber on my skin when I am clothed and it is very punishing to me to be forced to endure it.

And, keep in mind, I am a pretty healthy guy. I am a strict vegan and pertty active physically. I was vegetarian for many years before going vegan, and have always been pretty health consious. Never smoked, never done recreational drugs and never been drunk (I don't drink). My doctor says I should start drinking, ha!

[1Ace]

I take meds for high BP and know I feel way more relaxed when I am in the buff at the beach or one of the resorts I go to. Would be interesting to know what my pressure reading is clothed vs unclothed though....

PS: Omega 3 Fish Oil has helped me get in the normal range as my doctor was getting ready to up the dosage on my meds.

[Agde]

Interesting, and an idea that could surely qualify for research funding. The European Commission has even funded research, for instance, showing that airport noise (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/15/2163413.htm) dangerously raises blood pressure.

This may be getting slightly ahead of the research, but when the blood pressure lowering effect of nudity is ultimately proven, perhaps we can be ready with draft regulations that any blood pressure raising activities, such as smoking or working in high-pressure jobs, may only be done if offset by being nude. :)

(PS. As for saunas (or bastus), the traditional cold dip afterwards has been found to radically increase blood pressure (http://www.answers.com/topic/sauna), so, nude or not, be careful!)

[Naturist Mark]

This may be getting slightly ahead of the research, but when the blood pressure lowering effect of nudity is ultimately proven, perhaps we can be ready with draft regulations that any blood pressure raising activities, such as smoking or working in high-pressure jobs, may only be done if offset by being nude.

I can just see it now.

If nudity is proven to lower hypertension, big Pharma will not be happy. The FDA will pass a rule classifying it is a therapeutic medical procedure that can only be practiced under the orders - a prescription - of a physician, and under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Hypertensives will have appointments at a therapy/rehabilitation center every other day or so, to have their blood pressure taken, and if too high will be given a 30 minute time slot to rest in a solarium without clothing.

For safety reasons the solarium will not be open to the sky or direct sunlight.

-Mark

[HabaneroSting]

I would not be surprised if nudism reduced hypertension. In a nudist lifestyle, people are usually more secure with themselves and other nudist are probably about the friendliest people you will ever meet. The lifestyle promotes inner peace and a relaxed non-judgmental environment. This is a good point Stu.

[Borntobenude]

Very interesting idea, and definitely one deserving of further research.

[Stu2630]

I'm pleased my idea has met with the general approval of everyone here.

So, any medical researchers out there want to run with this one? It would make a great PhD or MD thesis! ;)

Stu

[Running Bear]

bare-belly
I would say you need to be a bit careful about making assumptions as to what happens elsewhere in the world. I would wager you would find that almost all yoga classes in India are taken clothed.
Stu
Yoga originated in India (and similar forms evolved all over the world) and was carried out by monks who were traditionally naked although the provenance of this idea is historical so evidence is scant. Nudity was common although it was often same sex nudity. Sometimes just a loincloth was used. I do suggest that here the word 'naked' in usage implied the 'minimum of clothing' and does not suggest total nudity in every case.
No assumptions were implied. Naked yoga is a minority activity everywhere until I get my way :-)
Thanks for your input Stu, I knew there was a nice person in there trying to get out :-)

[bare-belly]

Your defense of me is much appreciated, RB. And Jeep? Have you ever spoken to your doctor about having a fabric allergy? Sounds to me like you may, and finding the right fabrics for when you must dress may lead to a longer life, more of which you can live in the nude. I advise you to see about this!

Bare-Belly

[jon71]

If you're looking into allergies don't forget to check out detergents. We've only used perfume and dye-free for years now.

[JeepNude]

Your defense of me is much appreciated, RB. And Jeep? Have you ever spoken to your doctor about having a fabric allergy? Sounds to me like you may, and finding the right fabrics for when you must dress may lead to a longer life, more of which you can live in the nude. I advise you to see about this!

Bare-Belly

It's even worse than that! I am allergic to any fabric but cotton, and I am allergic to the soaps used to clean clothes! I have to wash my body with Ivory dish soap and wash my clothes with it mixed with baking soda. It all has to do with my sweat mixing with it. If I am nude, it's all good. If I am clothed and I sweat, it's a rash waiting to happen.

Hey, since I can justify my state of undress medically, it makes things a lot easier to explain by those meeting me for the first time that have 'questions'. And, some of my wife's friends.

I have already had scratch tests, etc. Doctor suggests lots of meds (which I am against) or keep doing what I am doing. Vegan diet, nude body, etc.

[Rick_42]

I've found that after I've had even a couple hours of nude recreation at a swim, a day at a resort, or even nude at home for an extended period of time, I feel more relaxed and stress-free. I'm on meds for my blood pressure and I check it daily and I've found that it is almost always lower after I've been nude for an extended period of time. I wouldn't go so far as to say clothing makes me feel more stressed but I would hypothesize that being nude is more comfortable and more relaxing, at least for me.

[zad]

I always feel like being a bit more active when I'm nude. The extra excercise has got to be good for the blood pressure doesn't it?