DeepSummary
The podcast episode begins with discussions about the trend of cold water plunging, particularly after leaving a sauna or hot tub. The hosts explain that while saunas and cold plunges separately have proven health benefits, combining the two presents potential risks that have not been thoroughly researched.
The hosts delve into the claimed benefits of the hot-cold cycle, such as improved stress response, immune system, and mood enhancement. However, they also highlight the potential dangers, including the risk of cardiac arrest or involuntarily gasping and inhaling water due to the extreme temperature shock.
The hosts emphasize the need for more large-scale, controlled studies to accurately assess the safety and efficacy of deliberately shocking the body with extreme temperature changes. They advise caution, especially for those with pre-existing cardiac conditions, and suggest exploring milder alternatives like transitioning from a hot shower to a cold one.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Cold plunging after a sauna or hot tub has potential health benefits but also significant risks that have not been thoroughly researched.
- The sudden temperature shock from hot to cold can potentially cause a dangerous spike in heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, leading to cardiac arrest or other adverse effects.
- Those with existing heart conditions or questionable cardiac health should exercise extreme caution or avoid cold plunging altogether, especially after being heated.
- The temperature of the cold water is a critical factor, with very cold water (e.g., below 60°F) presenting the greatest risk of cold shock and potential drowning.
- More large-scale, controlled studies are needed to accurately assess the safety and efficacy of deliberately shocking the body with extreme temperature changes.
- Individuals should think critically, do their own research, and consult medical professionals before attempting potentially dangerous practices promoted as trends.
- Milder alternatives like transitioning from a hot shower to a cold one may provide similar benefits with reduced risk.
- Personal experiences and anecdotal evidence should not be blindly trusted regarding the safety of cold plunging, as the potential dangers were previously underestimated.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Yeah, that's nuts. Which makes sense because it feels like you could when you jump into a cold plunge, especially if you're already really hot, but supposedly in less than a minute, you could die in water that's 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.“ by Josh or Chuck
- “Not only whether you have a heart condition or not, a differentiator. The water temperature is a differentiator, too. You'll see people who are like, yeah, jump into water. That's like, 57 degrees fahrenheit. That is astoundingly cold. That's the water temperature that killed the survivors of the Titanic going down. That's North Sea in February.“ by Josh or Chuck
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Episode Information
Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts
1/24/24
Jumping into a cold pool after a long sauna or hot tub can be pretty great. Saunas have proven health benefits like lowering blood pressure; cold plunges are shown to reduce inflammation. Why not combine them? A bunch of safety reasons, bucko, that’s why.
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