Winter swimming: benefits and harm to the body. Winter swimming: opinions "for" and "against"

В мире существует много экстремальных видов spending time tickling nerves and increasing adrenaline levels in the blood. One of them is winter swimming. The benefits and harms of this activity are on two bowls of the same scales. What will outweigh depends on different reasons and individually for each of us. Let's try to figure it out.

A bit of history

Winter swimming in Russia practiced even in pagantime. Our ancestors in the winter and in the summer loved to hob their bones in the soap, as the bathhouses were called then, and after that they leaped into the river or pond. That is why they tried to build a bath not far from the reservoirs. Some historians write that the Tatar-Mongols, who had come to conquer Russia and had seen Russians splashing in the hole, called them insane.

Peter I, in every way instilling European mores,he did not refuse to swim in icy water, as the pagans did. While in Paris, he built a bathhouse on the banks of the Seine and shocked the worldly-minded Parisians by bathing naked Russian men in icy water.

Winter swimming was even more common among Finns. The reason for this was their famous saunas and the cold climate of Finland.

"Walruses" and "polar bears"

Winter swimming is popular in many countries.Walruses are practicing here, polar bears on the American continent, otters and seals in Finland. Winter swimming is extremely popular, winter swimming in China. It is called aquise, which means "water" and "ice." In the Celestial Aquatic included in the list of national sports. And the Chinese Yan Xiangbin even got into the Guinness Book after spending as much as 67 minutes in icy water!

There are competitions on akvaysu.Finland has adopted international rules in this sport. Men and women are involved. Heats take place at short distances, including tracks 25, 50 and 450 meters. There is also a marathon 1 km long, but few can participate in this kind of competition.

Amateur winter swimming

In recent years, a lot of Russian returnstraditions. One of them is dipping into a hole in baptism. Some believe that by doing so they cleanse the body and soul from filth. Perhaps from a psychological position it is. But on the medicine side, the benefits of one-time diving into icy water are highly questionable. According to doctors, after Epiphany bathing, the number of visits to clinics with complaints of pain in the kidneys, perineum, and lumbar spine sharply increases. In men, this leads to pyelonephritis and prostatitis. In women, inflammation of the ovaries and cystitis.

That there was a winter swimming benefit, not a harm,it is necessary to deal with them only systematically, and not occasionally. In many cities of Russia there are walrus clubs, where they teach how to perform winter swimming correctly so that there are no problems.

Winter swimming damage

Opponents of swimming in the ice-hole call many factors according to which this occupation is classified as harmful and dangerous.

First and foremost, this is a huge stress for the nervous system and the whole body. And stress, as is known, leads to heart attacks, strokes and other troubles.

Второй фактор состоит в том, что у «моржей» produced dependence for winter swimming, like a drug. In the summer, they may even experience a condition similar to the breakdown of drug addicts. This opinion is based on the fact that the "walrus" produces endorphin, which is an opium substance.

Some believe that the hardening of winter swimming -only visibility. In fact, the body only becomes stronger at first, the diseases do not disappear, but only for a while they freeze. Then there is a depletion of energy reserves, a person weakens, his immunity decreases. In the end, this leads to exacerbations and deterioration of the general condition.

The use of winter swimming

Lovers of winter swimming sure that itis an excellent way to temper the body, to rid it of all kinds of colds. It is proved that "walruses" are sick less than mere mortals by 5 times. It has also been proven that dipping into an ice hole helps to get rid of many chronic diseases, strengthens the immune system, and helps regulate weight. Thin are gaining it, full lose it. Without exception, everyone notes that winter swimming strengthens the strength of the spirit, makes you believe in yourself, mobilizes internal resources to perform difficult tasks and achieve goals, improves sleep, strengthens nerves, gives a lot of positive energy. Its value is also invaluable for middle-aged people, because swimming in the winter period has an incredible rejuvenation effect.

"Walruses" with gray hair at the temples

In the cells of our CNS, catecholamines are produced andacetylcholines. The first ones are responsible for the endocrine balance and promote the activity of all body systems. The latter lead to calmness and inactivity. The older the person, the less catecholamines are produced, and the more acetylcholines. That is why old people are slow, many of them are shaking hands. Acetylcholine is also “guilty” of exacerbation of gastrointestinal problems in the elderly, in age-related diabetes mellitus, age-related obesity, even in the occurrence of malignant tumors.

Help the body to start producing a lot againcatecholamines can winter swimming, the benefits and harm of which causes so much controversy. It works reflexively. A sharp exposure to cold gives an impetus to the increased release of catecholamines into the blood in order to narrow the skin's vessels and prevent the internal organs from freezing. The more a person trains, the more beneficial hormones appear in his body. From this, the capabilities of the nervous system increase, the muscles acquire tone.

All elderly people involved in winter swimming look younger than their age on their passport. They are less sick, vigorous and energetic.

Is it so terrible stress, as he is painted

There is a proven fact that helps the uninitiated.reject winter swimming. The benefits and harms of it converge in the dreaded word "stress." But is he dangerous? The famous Hans Selye called adaptation stress, which in small doses helps the body fight viruses, germs, and so on, and only in large amounts leads to exhaustion. American scientists from the University of Kentucky confirmed that short-term stress, which can be attributed to exposure to cold, stimulates the immune system and increases resistance to many diseases, including infectious. It also helps heal wounds and fight cancer cells.

When a walrus plunges into a hole, its bodysubjected to short-term stress. In response, the blood vessels constrict, blood pressure jumps, the heart beats stronger, and the blood glucose level rises. All this leads to an exacerbation of feelings - vision, hearing, perception of the world around. A person who regularly goes in for winter swimming becomes more collected, purposeful and physically strong.

Only prolonged stress, usually associated with life problems, destroys health, leads to heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, ulcers and nervous breakdowns.

Is winter swimming a drug?

Opponents of winter swimming claim that duringSplashing in the hole in people actively produce narcotic substances - endorphins. These hormones help mobilize defenses and ignore negative stimuli, such as pain. In many diseases, endorphins are specifically injected into the body for recovery to occur.

Indeed, people whose lives are connected withExtreme, get used to increased levels of endorphins in the blood. They are difficult to endure inaction and peace. Nevertheless, they have no narcotic withdrawals. The same applies to "walruses". In the warm season, they can actively engage in sports to increase physical activity. It also contributes to the production of endorphins.

It is hardly possible to call the winter swimming drug.The pros and cons here depend on other factors. And endorphins are produced in humans not only from the cold, but also during sex or the sound of pleasant music. No wonder they are called the hormones of joy and happiness.

Immutable rules

No matter how good you talk about winter swimming, the benefits and harm from it are equally possible.

In order to receive joy from bathing in icy waters, one must faithfully observe the following rules.

1. Start gradually, without fanaticism. Experienced "walruses" insist on pre-hardening of the body. To do this, from the summer you need to pour cold water, gradually lowering its temperature.

2. The first time not to plunge into the ice hole alone. It is imperative that someone be near.

3. Make a hole in the hole so that you can easily get out of it.

4. Dip only warming the body well, but not sweating.

5. To be in the water for the first time only 15-20 seconds, gradually increasing the time to a minute.

6. If winter swimming is not acceptable naked, after wiping out of the water you need to quickly remove wet clothes, wipe dry and get warm.

7. Winter swimming is not carried out, being at least a little drunk.

Who can not splash in the hole

Despite the undeniable positive effectwhich gives winter swimming, he has contraindications, unfortunately. Winter swimming is prohibited for people who have problems with the cardiovascular system, thyroid, lungs, hypertension during exacerbations, suffering from epilepsy, asthma, infectious diseases and certain skin diseases. All those who have chronic diseases, before the start of winter swimming should be examined and obtain permission from a doctor. Absolutely healthy future "walruses" must also do this in order to correctly calculate the capabilities of their organism.

Naturally, at the slightest indisposition, chills, fever, pain, you can not swim in the hole.

"Walruses" and "walrus"

With winter swimming for adults is more or less clear.What about children? Serious passions are raging on this issue. Adherents of children's winter swimming do not just prove its exceptional usefulness, they openly demonstrate this in practice. Parents, "walruses" are happy to swim in the hole with their children, and the kids spend the winter swimming naked. For adults, it is also more useful, because, having got out of the hole, you do not have to spend time taking off wet clothes and subjecting the body to additional hypothermia.

But many doctors believe that the children's body is stillnot prepared to withstand stress. Because of this, many babies who are dipped into an ice-hole often have problems with the nervous system, stomach, intestines, and immunity is not increased, but reduced. Therefore, hardening of children is best done without extreme. To do this, there is an excellent method of wiping and dousing with cool water, cryotherapy, walking barefoot on the floor at any time of the year.