Some people who live in cold regions like to celebrate the new year by going for a swim in icy waters. In Canada, they've been doing the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim on New Year's Day for 105 years now! Similar traditions take place in Boston and Toronto and many places in northern Europe as well. To those people who return year after year to participate, it's a lot of fun, but what does it do to your body?
Swimming in cold water puts your body through several processes, such as the cold shock, cold water incapacitation, hypothermia, and recovery, when your core temperature continues to drop after you get out of the water. Body temperature experts recommend limiting a polar swim to 30 seconds, especially for beginners. Never do this by yourself, and be aware of the symptoms of adverse results. Learn what to expect in cold-water swimming, the danger signals, and the mental health benefits that people report when they go for a New Year's swim at Smithsonian. None of this applies if you're heading for a tropical beach for the holiday.
