Is ice bath, which has gained popularity in recent years, good for health? Why does it attract so much attention? What are its harms? The answers are in this article.
The ice bath, which has been frequently encountered on social media in recent years and has quickly caught our attention, is a health practice that aims to hold the body in icy cold water for a short time. This experience, which lasts about 5-10 minutes, provides many benefits to the body.
Benefits of ice bath
Ice baths have many health benefits, especially reducing muscle pain, speeding up recovery after exercise, and having positive effects on overall health.
Good for muscle pain
When the body is exposed to cold water, the blood vessels constrict and shrink. When you get out of the water, your muscles quickly reopen as the temperature changes. This rapid expansion of the blood vessels provides your muscles with the oxygen they need and helps reduce any pain you may have. You can think of this as being directly proportional to the reason you put ice on a painful or swollen area of your body.
Provides focus and creates a meditative effect
Studies show that ice baths are good for mental health and focus. In fact, we can give an example of this as an ice bath for meditation after exercise. During this experience, the cold water, which allows you to focus on your breathing and focus elsewhere, causes endorphins to be released in the nervous system. It provides physical and mental relaxation.
Provides quality sleep
Ice baths, which especially affect the nervous system, can make you sleepy while refreshing the body. Therefore, you can have a healthy sleep after an ice bath.
Is it risky to take an ice bath? What are the harms?
Ice baths, which provide many benefits physically and mentally, are not suitable for everyone. In fact, they carry risks for those who try them for the first time. If you ask what the risks are; staying in icy water for more than 10 minutes leads to hypothermia and frostbite. In addition, it causes the triggering of existing serious illnesses.
