Effect of winter swimming on the cardiovascular system: adaptive mechanisms and potential hazards
Jurczak P, Saied A, Sztaba K, Zdzieborska P, Zubik K, Osowiecka K, Gromadziński L
Polski merkuriusz lekarski : organ Polskiego Towarzystwa Lekarskiego · 1 citation
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Cohort study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2025-01-01 · Pol Merkur Lekarski · vol. 53 · issue 5 · pp. 600–606
- Publisher
- MedPress
- Cited
- 2 citations · more than 83% of similar papers · 1.3× the field average
- References
- 25 works
- Access
- Open access (hybrid journal) · OTHER-OA
- Research areas
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control · Thermoregulation and physiological responses · Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- Heart rate, Heart rate variability, Physical activity, Sample size determination, Blood pressure
- MeSH
- humans, cardiovascular diseases, electrocardiography, ambulatory, seasons, adaptation, physiological, heart rate, swimming, adult, middle aged, female, male, young adult
7 authors
From PL
- Paweł JurczakUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Arian SaiedUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Klaudia SztabaUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Paulina ZdzieborskaUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Katarzyna ZubikUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
- Karolina OsowieckaUniversity of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Abstract
Objective
Aim: To investigate the impact of winter swimming on the cardiovascular system.
Patients and methods
Material and methods: A group of 30 adult subjects underwent an ECG Holter examination twice (during the winter swimming season and after its end). The following parameters available in the results of the ECG Holter examination were analysed: HR, VE and SVE beats, QT and heart rate variability parameters: SDNN, SDANN, pNN50, RMSSD and Tiangular index.
Results
Results: In subjects over 45 years of age, higher values of the SDNN and SDANN parameters during the winter period may suggest a positive impact of winter swimming on the cardiovascular system. The QTc max parameter showed higher values in males during the winter study, whereas higher values were recorded in females during the summer study. As the frequency of winter swimming episodes increased, higher HR min values and lower SDNN and SDANN values were observed.
Conclusion
Conclusions: In healthy subjects under 45 years of age, winter swimming appears to have no significant impact on the heart rate variability parameters, whereas in individuals over 45 years of age, it shows a statistically significant positive impact. Winter swimming practised more frequently than once a week may reduce the autonomous reserve and increase cardiovascular risk. Further research with a larger sample size is necessary to better understand the effects of winter swimming on the cardiovascular system.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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