Is it safe to take the polar plunge? What to know before jumping in frigid Texas waters
It’s the time of year when talk of ringing in the new year by taking a plunge into freezing waters kicks up.
Many of the events in North Texas are for charity or to raise money for a cause such as the Special Olympics of Texas. There are also cities who hold the winter events to attract visitors to lakeside locales like the Lake Granbury Goosebump Jump.
“The Goosebump Jump is our kickoff event to the Winter-Guest Tourism Season in Granbury,” said Tammy Dooley, Director, City of Granbury Convention & Visitors Bureau — Visit Granbury. “And the forecast? 100% chance of snow.”
It’s a tradition, some will say. It’s good for your health, others will argue. But how healthy is it to jump into cold waters? Here’s what experts say.
Is it healthy to plunge into cold water?
Some swear by health benefits of cold water immersion, including improving mental health and reducing stress, reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system, increasing energy and blood circulation, nourishing hair and skin, increasing lung function and improving sleep. It’s an ancient practice that dates back to early ancient Egyptian and Greek practices.
But health experts paint a different story, stressing that there are many risks involved in what’s become a popular trend especially on social media platforms like TikTok.
Is jumping into freezing water bad for you?
The shock of cold water can immediately put your body in distress, The American Heart Association says, causing sudden spikes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.
Due to the “shock” of sudden plunging, cold water immersion can cause involuntary gasping, rapid breathing or hyperventilating, according to the National Weather Service. Uncontrolled rapid breathing can quickly become a drowning emergency if you inhale water and cannot stay afloat.
Because blood vessels constrict in response to sudden cooling, cold water immersion causes an instant and massive increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which increases the danger of heart failure and stroke, per the National Center for Cold Water Safety.
Hypothermia can also be triggered faster when you plunge into freezing water.
This story was originally published December 13, 2023 at 12:00 AM.
