Cold Water Immersion: Cardiac Russian Roulette

The practice of immersing your body in ice water is growing in popularity based on claims of improved mood and well-being, muscle recovery after exercise, even longevity. But this ignores the well-established fact that sudden cardiac death is a real risk due to coronary spasm, causing heart attack, and unstable heart rhythms due to a situation called autonomic conflict. There are a growing number of lawsuits that have been filed for the many sudden cardiac deaths that have occurred. So let’s discuss what we know about this concept of cold water immersion and why it is such a dangerous practice. 

• Immersion in water around 15°C/60°F triggers dangerous physiological responses
• Cold exposure causes coronary arteries to spasm, potentially leading to heart attack
• Most adults have some degree of endothelial dysfunction, making them vulnerable
• "Autonomic conflict" occurs when both nervous system branches activate simultaneously
• Multiple lawsuits have been filed over deaths from ice baths and polar plunges
• Safer alternatives exist for achieving the claimed benefits of cold exposure
• Cold showering (starting warm and gradually cooling) may offer similar benefits with less risk

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