Winter swimming is a new topic in sports medicine. Winter swimming is not only exercise, but also has the unique fitness and medical effects of cold stimulation, which has been concerned by the world. Many researchers and winter swimmers at home and abroad have published a lot of discussions about winter swimming. A large number of facts have proved that winter swimming can enhance physical fitness and improve the body's resistance and immunity. Winter swimming is the best project integrating disease prevention, treatment, fitness and anti-aging. Everyone who swims in winter will know that eating well, sleeping well, being energetic, having a high physical quality, not catching a cold easily, and some chronic diseases will naturally disappear. At present, most people agree with the theory of "stress" about the mechanism of winter swimming on human body. Stress is the whole process of human body's response to various stimuli (motivations) of internal and external environment. Moderate stress can stimulate the body to produce benign effects (adaptability, resistance, immunity), which is the positive side of stress. On the contrary, it will damage health and cause diseases. Winter swimming is to stimulate the transformation of human body's various system functions by using the amount of cold stimulation acceptable to individuals, so as to benefit their own healthy survival. Research data show that cold stress can activate the nervous system to command all life systems and improve the neuroendocrine system, immune system, energy conversion system and antioxidant function in vivo. The balance and stability of these systems are the fundamental factors that determine human health.
The cold stress of winter swimming can make human blood vessels contract first and then expand. This relaxation of blood vessels keeps the elasticity of blood vessels, which is called "vascular gymnastics" and plays a role in preventing and delaying the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Studies have proved that high-density lipoprotein in the blood of winter swimmers has increased to varying degrees, while low-density lipoprotein has decreased, thus inhibiting the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. According to the observation data, those who insist on winter swimming are similar to young adults in improving microcirculation, and winter swimming has obvious effect on preventing and relieving hyperviscosity in middle-aged and elderly people. The above facts show that winter swimming is of great value to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the first killer of mankind.
The cold stress of winter swimming can also adjust the balance between the excitement and inhibition of the central nervous system, which is conducive to the improvement of the function of the autonomic nervous system. Some patients with autonomic nervous dysfunction have recovered through winter swimming. Free radicals are harmful substances produced by human metabolism and are called "human garbage". SOD is the bane of eliminating free radicals in human body. Some people tested the SOD content of winter swimmers and found that the SOD content in the blood of winter swimmers was higher than that of normal people. Therefore, long-term adherence to winter swimming and cold-resistant exercise is of far-reaching significance for disease prevention, anti-aging and longevity.
To sum up, winter swimming has a broad prospect in self-care medicine and is worth popularizing. If limited by geographical conditions or time, you can also try cold water bath to simulate winter swimming and cold-resistant fitness exercise, which will achieve similar results. We should follow the scientific methods and principles of winter swimming fitness, starting from summer, step by step, gradually increase, persevere and do what we can. Experience tells us that anyone who has taken a cold bath will have no problem if he has the opportunity to participate in winter swimming fitness activities.
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