Habitual cold-water swimming and upper respiratory tract infection.

doi:10.4193/Rhin21.068

Paper

Habitual cold-water swimming and upper respiratory tract infection.

Published Aug 24, 2021 · N. Collier, M. Lomax, M. Harper

Rhinology

Q1 SJR score

6

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1

Influential Citations

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Semantic Scholar

Abstract

It has long been claimed that non-wetsuit cold water swimming (CWS) benefits health (1), and anecdotally cold-water swimmers claimed to suffer fewer and milder infections, though this was not directly measured. A boost to immunity is biologically plausible: stress hormones are released during cold-water immersion (2), and short-term stress may ready the immune system for injury or infection (3). However, very few studies have investigated immune system markers and/or actual illness in habitual cold-water swimmers.

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayHabitual cold-water swimming may boost immunity and reduce upper respiratory tract infections, but more research is needed to confirm these claims.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

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Paper

Habitual cold-water swimming and upper respiratory tract infection.

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More information on responses to immersion in cold and warm water, individual variation in these responses, and the precursors to cardiac events can make open water swimming a safer sport.

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Short-term stress can enhance immune responses, while long-term stress suppresses protective responses and exacerbates pathological responses, potentially impacting health and healing.

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Sea swimming may enhance postoperative recovery and reduce preoperative complications by promoting cold adaptation, similar to the response to cold exposure during surgical stress.

Encounters for common illnesses in general practice increased in obese patients.

Obese patients present more common illnesses to their GPs, such as common cold, myalgia, dermatophytosis, and bruises, in addition to their higher co-morbidity of chronic medical conditions.

Citations

What is the impact of cold-water bathing and swimming on human health? Literature review

Regular winter swimming by adapted individuals has benefits on hematopoiesis and may increase immunity, but the circulatory system's impact depends on the practitioner's adaptation level.

The Effect of Cold-Water Swimming on Energy Metabolism, Dynamics, and Mitochondrial Biogenesis in the Muscles of Aging Rats

Cold-water swimming improves muscle energy metabolism and enhances mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics in aging rats, while warm water exercise increases energy metabolism but does not significantly affect mitochondrial dynamics.

Effects of 3-week repeated cold water immersion on leukocyte counts and cardiovascular factors: an exploratory study

A 3-week repeated cold water immersion intervention showed no significant effects on leukocyte counts in healthy men, and its effects on cardiovascular factors remain unclear due to methodological limitations.

Concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, Prostaglandin E2 in Bones and Parathyroid Hormone; 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; 17-β-estradiol; Testosterone and Somatotropin in Plasma of Aging Rats Subjected to Physical Training in Cold Water

Swimming in cold water can improve bone mineral metabolism and hormone levels in aging rats, with potential benefits for bone health and muscle tissue.

Cold Water Swimming—Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review

Cold water swimming can provide health benefits for experienced, regular, and adjusted swimmers, but can be fatal for unfamiliar individuals due to neurogenic cold shock or hypothermia.