This physiological response has been mentioned so many times that I decided it needed its own specific post to plug into the Cold Water Swimming articles section. What is peripheral vasoconstriction? Following immersion in cold water, blood flow is reduced in human limbs and skin. Why does peripheral vasoconstriction happen? Peripheral vasoconstriction occurs to allow the…
I’ve said previously that open water swimming is dangerous. Ice Mile swimming is even more dangerous. I don’t think the IISA website, which is how most people are going to interact with and learn about the IISA or Ice Mile swimming, is anywhere near as comprehensive as it needs to be on its message about…
I read a blog recently about cold immersion and cold baths, and cold swimming to a lesser extent. The author was speaking about the positive physical and mental benefits of regular ice baths. Similar benefits to what we as cold water swimmers regularly experience. All well and good. For aspirant Channel swimmers without access to…
More clearly: Why do you have to pee more during and after swimming? Diuresis is the medical term for increased urination. Cold immersion diuresis is common to cold water swimmers and is the strong desire to pee after (and sometimes during) swimming in cold water. As we have now discussed many times, swimming in cold…
The simple ideas are often the best ones. I’ve previously reviewed Irish Company Amphibia Sport‘s excellent Evo Sports Bag and I recently received in the post one of the company’s long-awaited (for me) silicon Sports Ring. I forgot to test swim it the weekend after I received it, so it had to wait until this…
Cold, my favourite subject. With so many ways to talk about it. Every year I note changes in my adaptation and responses. The fun in this, is that I can treat myself like a long-term experiment and see what happens, it makes the cold swimming even more interesting, adds more personal value to it. My…
I’ve often talked about vaso-constriction. As a reminder, upon immersion in cold water, in order to retain core warmth, blood flow to the extremities and skin slows. Upon exiting cold water a swimmer’s skin will feel really cold, even if the swimmer is experienced and may actually feel completely comfortable. I watched the BBC’s Wild…
LoneSwimmer 