Jumping straight into freezing water? 🥶 Just a trend or offering some benefits too?
Just like ours, your social media feed will also be full of photos and videos of people in the icy water. How can they just sit like that? Only this thought scares many people.
The influencers claim that doing this can boost workouts, improve sleep, and even help you strengthen the immune system.
But what is right? There are some claims, but more research is needed to be sure. However, what do we know now?
What’s This Chilly Dip?
A cold plunge, or how about if we call it a chilly dip.
It is just dipping yourself in icy-cold water that can provide you with some health benefits as well. Some people are taking this plunge. But why do they take it? There are some random claims, like healing anxiety or reducing stress.
According to John Kelly, a physiologist at the University of Chichester in the U.K., a study of roughly 40 participants who were naïve to cold water immersion found that one session of either 5, 10, or 20 minutes rapidly raised mood by about the same amount regardless of time in water.
Can You Do It?
Now, this is not a dare for you. We will discuss all the pros and cons later on, but what if your mind coaxes you? And you just have the urge to do it? Here’s how you can do it.
⚠️ Warning: The evidence to call the claims true is still lacking. So, always get your doctor’s advice before you take such plunges because of a trend.
Doing Plunging At Home
Already talked to the doctor? Now clean the tub and fill it with ice. Your special cryo dip is ready!.
Now, you have also seen on social media, people taking a bath in cold freezing water or rubbing ice on themselves. These are also some ways. You can try them out if you want, just make sure your health is prioritized.
Now, the main idea is simple: you have to sit in cold water for a few minutes. And you are done, come out and put on a towel and warm clothes so you can heat up quickly afterward.
Do not yell, but be prepared for the shock of the cold water. Oh, hang on, does a cold plunge give a shock to your body?
Is Cold Plunge Shock To Your Body
Our body is meant to keep warm. We are not talking about overheated stuff. To serve this purpose, our body even does homeostasis.
There are tiny sensors just below our skin. When you jump into the cold bath, these sensors become super active; in other words, your body is shocked. Your body starts shivering to make heat, but that also causes gasping and makes it hard to control your breathing.
Your body also cuts blood flow to your skin and hands or feet to protect your vital organs, which is why you also feel numbness. Your heart rate and blood pressure also rise quickly to push blood through your body, and hence, you get a state of panic.
Is this panic or numbness, or heavy breathing beneficial or not? Let’s discuss some pros and cons.
Cold Water Therapy Pros
The limited research on it might suggest some of the benefits, such as:
- Resilience: It is a matter of great resilience, and it is surely a hard nut to crack to build resilience. So, the mental strength you build after doing tough activities, like ice baths, is impeccable.
- Stress Management: When you have a bad day, all you need is something to make you forget it. The cold water can help with it. No, it doesn’t help you erase a memory, but it can help you manage stress better.
- Mood boost: Do you want to boost your mind as the first gesture of starting your day? Cold baths are associated with releasing hormones that can make you feel good, like endorphins.
Cold Therapy Cons
While some of the scientists and researchers are calling it rubbish, well, there might be some truth in it.
- Fast breathing: Now, faster breathing, you are surely going to have. Icy water 100% triggers cold shock, so don’t freak out and remain calm when you have gasping and uncontrollable breathing.
- High blood pressure and heart rate: You have to be aware that your blood pressure can spike suddenly, and your heart will beat much faster.
- Panic or confusion: As your whole body will go through a sudden big shock, it can affect your thinking and decision-making.
- Numbness and Weakness: The blood in your body can move away from your hands and feet, which means you will have a sensation of numbness. Not only will this reduced blood flow will also make it difficult for you to move.
Last words
You have read the whole article. What do you think are cold plunges just another social media trend or worth the hype?
Cold therapies do bring some advantages, just like you can improve your mood and handle stress better by developing remarkable resilience in your body. But there are pros and cons. Besides, your body may or may not be fit for such challenges
That’s why we advise you of only one thing: do not do it carelessly or without medical advice.
We are not the fun police, but if there are health concerns, maybe you should skip this one trend.
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