Swimming in an ice hole is said to have many benefits.
It is believed that such a "procedure" maintains heart health, strengthens the immune system, improves mood, makes a person more cheerful and even slows down the aging process. Perhaps this is true, but only if it concerns healthy adults - not children, not adults with chronic diseases or those who are not prepared for winter swimming.
Experts claim that swimming in an ice hole is an unimaginable stress for the body, which can not only harm health, but even lead to death.
After immersion in icy water, a person experiences cold shock. His pulse quickens, his blood pressure increases, and hyperventilation of the lungs occurs.
This condition does not allow a person to hold his breath. If he ends up under water, he will immediately take a breath, which can cause him to choke and drown.
After a couple of minutes, breathing is restored after experiencing cold shock, but due to the cooling, the permeability of nerves is disrupted and sensitivity to pain increases, and muscles weaken. This threatens numbness of the limbs and, again, drowning.
An unprepared person can lose consciousness in just 15 minutes of cold water, and develop hypothermia in just 30 minutes.
In addition, swimming in cold water increases the likelihood of pulmonary edema and also increases the permeability of the barrier between the bloodstream and the brain, which can lead to infection.
