Although the general perception is that swimming can be limited to the summer and spring seasons, swimming in winter is also a very useful exercise. Swimming is a sport that works all the muscles in the human body and adds fitness to the body. For this reason, if the necessary swimming environment is provided, swimming can also be practiced in winter. Especially indoor pools are the most ideal swimming areas in winter. In addition to heated indoor pools, it is also possible to swim in outdoor pools in winter.
Swimming in winter has been a long-standing outdoor trend for many years. Many different countries and regions organize swimming events in winter. In fact, these events are even considered as races, creating pleasant times where both sports and entertainment are combined.
The benefits of swimming in cold weather:
Swimming in cold weather, especially in outdoor pools, is an activity that keeps the human body vigorous and increases the pain threshold. By swimming in cold water in winter, you activate the endorphins secreted in the body and reduce the sensation of pain.
Ice baths are available to reduce inflammation, especially for professional swimmers. Ice baths and similar types of cold pool water prevent inflammation because the body reacts to the low temperature to protect its organs.
In cold pool water below standard temperature, the heart pumps blood faster to keep the body warm. As a result, you don't feel cold when you swim and on the contrary, you feel warmer. Your metabolic rate increases as a result of the rapid heartbeat and the struggle of the cells to increase body temperature.
In a normal person, blood circulation is proportional to the heart rate. Cold water both accelerates the pumping of blood and increases the heart rate. In this way, blood circulation is regulated to maintain the body's temperature balance. The senses sharpened in cold pool water make you feel healthier with the effect of rapid blood circulation. The shape and duration of your swimming routine also stabilizes blood circulation.
The human body is physiologically very sensitive to cold. Swimming activity in cold climatic conditions strengthens the body's immune system within the framework of differentiating conditions. The body defends itself by creating a kind of protection mechanism against cold. Thus, it gains a more vigorous and dynamic immune system.
The hormone endophrin, secreted by the brain into the human body, reduces the aches and pains felt. Swimming in cold water in cold weather creates a shock effect on the body, triggers pain and pain warnings, and endorphins are released during the time you are in the water. Thus, the longer you swim in cold water, the more endorphins the brain releases.
Swimming in cold weather allows your brain to concentrate on adapting and enhancing your physical functions to your location, without any other thoughts. This allows you to have a stress-free and more relaxed exercise time.
Cold water pools are ideal for swimming in winter. Swimming regularly is an extremely beneficial cardio exercise. For this reason, it is a sport that can be practiced in all seasons. If the water is at minus degrees, you should not stay in the pool for too long. Staying in the pool for more than 2 hours in winter can cause heart fatigue. This time may differ for professional swimmers and semi-active swimmers. It is not recommended that people who use the pool in winter stay in the pool for more than 120 minutes a day. The duration of swimming activities in winter varies depending on the type of pool. In health swimming activities such as therapy pool or Shock Pool, you can swim up to 120 minutes depending on the pool temperature. However, it would be better to get information from experts, especially in therapy pools. In sports swimming pools such as Swimming Pool, the duration may increase if the pool is located indoors. However, staying in outdoor pools for a long time in winter can harm your health.
In winter, there are 4 major swimming areas that host both water activities and participants from all over the world. South Africa, Argentina, Britain and Iceland are among the most beautiful places to swim in winter.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA:
With its central location and beautiful scenery, Camps Bay is a highly sought-after winter tourism destination in South Africa. The bay water reaches its lowest temperature in June, July and August. Swimming in this water, which drops to around 16°, is very relaxing and offers the opportunity to be surrounded by natural beauty.
PERI MORENO GLACIER, ARGENTINA:
Perito Moreno Glacier, located in the province of Santa Cruz in Argentina, offers you a swimming experience literally in the glaciers. Especially August is the ideal time for swimming in Perito Moreno Glacier. With water temperatures ranging between 0° and -2° , Perito Moreno Glacier winter festivals attract thousands of people.
ENGLISH CANAL, BOURNEMOUTH, BRITTANY:
The benefits of cold water diving range from increasing body resistance to reducing stress. The English Channel in Bournemouth provides the most suitable ground for cold water diving. Before jumping into the English Channel, you should not enter the minus-degree cold, where the body will suddenly plunge, without doing the necessary warm-up movements. Moreover, the English Channel hosts diving and swimming groups for much longer than the places in the previous articles. The English Channel in England is open to swimming groups from April to October.
REYKJAVİK, İZLANDA:
Due to its location, Iceland is a country where the water temperature never rises above 11° even in summer. From May to August, you can jump into the freezing cold in Reykjavik, which is also the capital of Iceland. Winter tours and Reykjavik beaches in spring and summer attract swimmers from all over the world.
The benefits of swimming in both cold pools and cold seas include increasing the pain threshold, reducing inflammation, boosting metabolism, improving blood circulation, strengthening the immune system, boosting endorphins and helping to cope with stress. However, there are some situations where swimming in cold weather can be inconvenient. Especially in winter, is it dangerous to go to the pool while pregnant? Questions such as "Does cold make you sick?" are answered in this article to clarify in which cases swimming in cold water can be harmful.
People with cardiovascular diseases, expectant mothers and people with physical disabilities are advised to swim in indoor and heated pools in cold weather. The heart, which starts to work faster to adapt to the sudden change in body temperature and cold water, can show different reactions and cause various health problems. In expectant mothers, protecting the health of both the baby and the mother and the mother's inability to resist the cold water, which creates a shock effect, can lead to health problems such as pulse drop and fainting. In cases such as fractures, dislocations, injuries and post-accident trauma, people entering water lower than room temperature in cold weather can adversely affect the course by creating a reverse shock wave. For these reasons, it is recommended that people with cardiovascular diseases, pregnant mothers and people with physical disabilities should not prefer cold pools and seas in the winter season.