Keith Roach, M.D., syndicated columnist

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a senior, and I shower in the evenings, regardless of what time I go to sleep. There are times I shower after midnight as well.

I was told that showering late, and then going to sleep isn’t good for seniors because it overstimulates the body and is not conducive to good sleep. Plus, it can cause a stroke. Is there any truth to this information? Or, is it just an old wives’ tale? Because I’m 82 years old, and I love showering at night, just for the want of feeling clean. — L.A.

ANSWER: Some people do get energized by a bath or shower, but most people get relaxed. There is some evidence that increasing the body’s core temperature a little by a hot bath or shower improves sleep, so I would say that unless you find difficulty sleeping, you can take your shower at nighttime.

I did find people claiming that showering at night increases risk of stroke, although there is no good evidence that this is true. The major risk factors for stroke are the ones most people know: high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, poor diet, smoking and excess alcohol. Showering doesn’t make sense as a risk factor, so you can shower anytime you like.

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