Walrus: benefit and harm to the body. Walrus: opinions "for" and "against"

In the world there are many extreme types of pastime, tickling the nerves and increasing the level of adrenaline in the blood. One of them is walrus. The benefits and harms of this occupation are on two bowls of one scales. What will outweigh, depends on different reasons and individually for each of us. Let's try to understand.

A bit of history

Walrus in Russia was practiced in pagan times. Our ancestors in the winter and summer liked to baste pits in the soap, as the bathhouses were called then, and then to throw into the river or pond. That is why the baths tried to build near the reservoirs. Some historians write that the Tatar-Mongols, who came to conquer Rus and saw the Russians splashing in the ice-hole, called them crazy.

Peter I, in every way inculcating European mores, from bathing in icy water, as the pagans did, did not refuse. Being in Paris, he built a bathhouse on the banks of the Seine and shocked the Parisians who had seen the kind seen by bathing the naked Russian peasants in icy water.

Even more common walrus was among the Finns. The reason for this became their famous saunas and the cold climate of Finland.

"Walruses" and "polar bears"

Winter swimming is popular in many countries. We have walruses on it, on the American continent "polar bears", in Finland "otters" and "seals". Extremely popular winter swimming, winter swimming in China. It is called aqua, which means "water" and "ice." In China, akvays is included in the list of national sports. And the Chinese Yan Xiangbin even got into the Guinness Book, having spent 67 minutes in icy water!

There are competitions on aqua competition. Finland has approved international rules in this sport. Participate men and women. The floods pass for short distances, including tracks 25, 50 and 450 meters. There is also a marathon distance of 1 km in length , but few can participate in this kind of competition.

Amateur winter swimming

In recent years, many Russian traditions are returning. One of them is dipping into an ice hole at Epiphany. Some believe that by doing so, they cleanse body and soul from filth. Probably, from a psychological position it is. But from the side of medicine the benefits of a single dive into the icy water are highly questionable. As doctors say, after baptismal bathing, the number of calls to clinics with complaints of pain in the kidneys, perineum, lumbar region sharply increases. In men, this leads to pyelonephritis and prostatitis. Women have ovarian inflammation and cystitis.

In order to be useful for swimming, not for harm, it is necessary to deal with it only systematically, and not occasionally. In many cities of Russia there are walrus clubs, where they teach how to perform winter swimming correctly so that there are no problems.

The damage to the walrus

Opponents of swimming in the hole are called many factors, according to which this occupation is classified as harmful and dangerous.

The first and the main is a huge stress for the nervous system and the whole organism. And stress, as is known, leads to heart attacks, strokes and other troubles.

The second factor is that the "walruses" develop a dependence on winter swimming, like a drug. In the summer they can even come in a condition similar to that of drug addicts. This opinion is based on the fact that the "walruses" produce endorphins, which is an opiate substance.

Some believe that quenching with walrus is only an appearance. In fact, the body only becomes stronger at first, the diseases do not disappear, but only stop for a while. Then there is a depletion of energy reserves, a person weakens, his immunity decreases. As a result, this leads to worsening and worsening of the general condition.

Benefits of sea-going

Fans of winter swimming are confident that it is an excellent way to temper the body, to save it from all kinds of colds. It is proved that "walruses" are sick less than mere mortals 5 times. It has also been proven that dipping into an ice hole helps to get rid of many chronic diseases, strengthens immunity, helps regulate weight. The thin take it, lose complete. All without exception, note that the walrus fortifies the strength of the spirit, makes you believe in yourself, mobilizes the internal reserves for the fulfillment of difficult tasks and achievement of the goals set, improves sleep, strengthens the nerves, gives a sea of positive. Its value is invaluable also for the elderly people, because swimming in the winter has an incredible effect of rejuvenation.

"Walruses" with gray hair on temples

In the cells of our central nervous system, catecholamines and acetylcholines are produced. The first are responsible for the endocrine balance and promote the activity of all body systems. The second leads to calm and lack of mobility. The older the person, the fewer catecholamines are produced, and the acetylcholines are more. That's why the old people are slow, many of them tremble their hands. Acetylcholines are also "guilty" of aggravation in the elderly of gastrointestinal problems, in age-related diabetes, age-related obesity, even in the occurrence of malignant tumors.

To help the body to start producing a lot of catecholamines again, can be winter swimming, the benefits and harm of which causes so much controversy. It works reflexively. A sharp exposure to cold gives an impetus to the increased release of catecholamines into the bloodstream to narrow the vessels of the skin and prevent the internal organs from freezing. The more a person trains, the more useful hormones appear in his body. From this the possibilities of the nervous system increase, the muscles acquire a tone.

All elderly people engaged in winter swimming, look younger than their age on the passport. They are less sick, cheerful and energetic.

Is it so terrible stress, as it is painted

There is a proven fact that helps the uninitiated to reject the walrus. Benefits and harm from him converge in the terrible word "stress." But is it so dangerous? Famous Hans Selye stress called an adaptive tension, which in small doses helps the body to fight viruses, microbes and so on and only in large leads to exhaustion. American scientists from the University of Kentucky confirmed that short-term stress, which can be attributed to exposure to cold, stimulates the immune system and increases resistance to many diseases, including infectious diseases. It also helps to heal wounds and fight cancer cells.

When the walrus plunges into an ice-hole, its body undergoes a short-term stress. In response, blood vessels narrow, blood pressure jumps, the heart beats harder, and blood glucose levels rise. All this leads to an aggravation of feelings - sight, hearing, perception of the world around us. A person who regularly engages in sea walrus becomes more collected, purposeful and physically strong.

Only prolonged stress, usually associated with life's problems, destroys health, leads to heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, ulcers and nervous breakdowns.

Winter swimming is a drug?

Opponents of the walrus claim that during the splashing in the ice hole, people actively develop narcotic substances - endorphins. These hormones help mobilize defenses and ignore negative stimuli, such as pain. In many diseases, endorphins are specially introduced into the body to bring about recovery.

Indeed, people whose lives are associated with extreme, get used to the increased content of endorphins in the blood. They are difficult to tolerate inaction and peace. Nevertheless, they do not have any drug. The same applies to "walruses". In the warm season, they can more actively engage in sports to increase physical activity. This also contributes to the production of endorphins.

It can hardly be called a drug of walrus. The pros and cons here depend on other factors. And endorphins are produced in humans not only from the cold, but also during sex or the sound of pleasant music. No wonder they are called hormones of joy and happiness.

Unbound Rules

How much good is it to talk about walrus, the benefits and harm from it are equally possible.

In order to receive joy from bathing in the icy water, it is necessary to observe the following rules.

1. Start gradually, without fanaticism. Experienced "walruses" insist on preliminary hardening of the body. For this, from the summer, you need to pour cold water, gradually lowering its temperature.

2. The first times do not dive into the hole one. It is necessary to have someone close by.

3. The hole to make such that from it it was possible to get out easily.

4. Dive only after warming up the body well, but not sweating.

5. To be in the water for the first time only 15-20 seconds, gradually increasing the time to a minute.

6. If nagging is not acceptable, after choosing from the water, you need to quickly remove wet things, dry yourself and warmly dress.

7. Winter swimming does not take place, being at least a little drunk.

Who can not dabble in the ice-hole

Despite the indisputable positive effect that walrus yields, there are, unfortunately, contraindications to it. Winter swimming is forbidden to people who have problems with the cardiovascular system, thyroid gland, lungs, hypertension during exacerbations, suffering from epilepsy, asthma, infectious and some skin diseases. Everyone who has chronic illnesses should undergo a survey and get permission from a doctor before starting winter swimming. This should be done and absolutely healthy future "walruses" in order to correctly calculate the capabilities of your body.

Naturally, with the slightest malaise, chills, fever, pain, you can not swim in an ice hole.

"Walruses" and "walruses"

With winter swimming for adults more or less clear. And what about the children? On this issue, raging serious passions. Adherents of children's walruses not only prove its exceptional usefulness, they openly demonstrate this in practice. Parents - "walruses" are happy to swim in the ice hole with their children, and the kids spend nagging navigating. For adults, this is also more useful, because getting out of the ice hole does not have to spend time taking wet clothes and subject the body to additional supercooling.

But many doctors believe that the children's body is not yet prepared to withstand stress. Because of this, many children who are dipped in the hole, often have problems with the nervous system, stomach, intestines, and immunity does not increase, but decreases. Therefore, hardening of children is better done without extreme. For this there is an excellent method of wiping and pouring cool water, cryotherapy, walking barefoot on the floor at any time of the year.