As the New Year approaches, some people prepare for a breathtaking tradition: cold plunges. In recent years, these polar plunges have surged in popularity, perhaps mainly for merriment, but they also are thought to have mental and physical health benefits.
Dr. Christopher McMullen, a UW Medicine sports medicine and rehabilitation physician at Harborview Medical Center, says cold water can reduce stress and anxiety, and improve mood.
“There's this physiologic response that happens almost immediately when you hit that water,” he said. “We see this release of hormones and neurotransmitters like cortisol and dopamine and adrenaline.”
Cold plunges can be a fun, invigorating form of self-care when practiced safely, he added. They aren’t for everyone, though, and people with certain medical conditions should take precautions, he added.
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