Japanese Wellness Hack Claims Stroke Prevention-Truth Check
Published on: May 13, 2026, 11 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
Deepika Padukone's former nutritionist, Shweta Shah, claimed on Instagram that a Japanese ritual of soaking feet in hot water for 15-20 minutes can prevent strokes, especially in people over 50, by expanding blood vessels, calming circulation, and reducing stress, with Epsom salt improving sleep. However, Dr. Pankaj Agarwal, Director of Neurology at Gleneagles Hospital, refutes this claim, stating there is no scientific evidence that warm foot soaks prevent strokes, which are serious medical emergencies caused by interrupted blood flow to the brain, primarily linked to factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle. Dr. Agarwal confirms that while warm soaks offer temporary, localized relaxation and slight circulation improvement, they do not influence the deeper arteries or the brain's blood supply crucial for stroke prevention, and he advises caution against such unverified online health claims, stressing that the proven way to lower stroke risk is through the SMART approach: Stop smoking, Meals that are healthy, Active lifestyle, Regular checkups and Treatment adherence.
