Safety alert over popular ice baths after man develops agonising condition – ‘it’s the most dangerous health trend out there’
A health coach has sounded the alarm over the popular ice-bath trend that sees people plunging into freezing temperatures—after he was left with a debilitating condition that can trigger organ failure.
The performance coach, who goes by joeinbalance on Instagram, told his followers that despite its mood-boosting abilities, the practise is ‘the most dangerous health trend out there.’
In a video that has been viewed over 4.4million times so far, Joe alleged that doing the plunges regularly for a year had resulted in him developing kidney stones.
These caused by waste products in the blood forming crystals that over time, form a hard, stone-like lump in the kidneys.
Once a kidney stone has formed, the body will tries to pass it through urine which, if depending on the size, can be extremely painful.
If untreated, the stones can trigger potentially serious urine infections and blockages, which raises the risk of kidney failure.
Fitness fanatic Joe, who developed kidney stones at just 18-years-old, described the condition as ‘the worst pain I’ve ever experienced’.
Initially, Joe—who has also trained in nutrition—thought that the stones were unrelated to his ice bath routine.
The performance coach and nutritionist put his kidney stones down to cold plunges and ice baths restricting blood flow to the kidneys
‘At first I loved the adrenaline rush and the dopamine high’, he said.
But, when he suffered two more kidney stones in quick succession, his ‘mind finally clicked’.
‘I started connecting the dots,’ he explained, adding that he believes the freezing temperatures puts undue stress on the immune system, causing waste products to build up in the blood.
Cold exposure also increases urination and dehydration which promotes the formation of kidney stones, he added.
Not drinking enough water is a well-known cause of kidney stones.
Diet, lifestyle, and genetics also play a role in the likelihood of someone developing kidney stones.
But, Joe said: ‘Ice bathing definitely made [my kidney stones] worse.’
He also noted that he has had no new stones appear since he stopped ice baths three years ago.
Researchers in Japan have found evidence to support Joe’s hypothesis, reporting the case of a 27-year-old man who developed kidney failure from cold water immersion.
Joe said that at first he enjoyed the surge of adrenaline and dopamine ice baths offered
‘Iceman’ Wim Hof’s therapy, where people plunge themselves into freezing water and perform breathing techniques in the hope of curing or alleviating health issues, has been linked to a string of deaths since 2015
He is now urging people to take an alternative approach to holistic health, swapping freezing cold plunges for sauna sessions instead.
Sauna-lovers say the hot rooms have a variety of health benefits including managing stress and easing muscle pain.
Ice baths have also surged in popularity in recent years, amid claims they can boost circulation and improve heart health.
Plunging into cold water trigger’s the body’s cold shock response, where a sudden drop in temperature leads to a surge in adrenaline, noradrenaline and other hormones that boost feelings of alertness.
This process is believed to be behind the alleged health benefits, although experts have warned that not everyone will reap the same rewards.
Experts warn that ice baths come with an increased risk of hyperventilation and hypothermia.
This is because, when the body is suddenly exposed to cold water, we almost instantly take a deep breath as the body demands oxygen.
This is followed by hyperventilation—a rate of rapid breathing ten times faster than normal.
Ice baths have been gaining in popularity in recent years, with celebrities including Chris Hemsworth, Harry Styles and Dua Lipa all joining in on the trend for its supposed health benefits
Instead of taking the plunge into freezing cold waters, the performance coach now opts for the sauna – which experts have said can help boost heart function
Sudden exposure to cold water also dramatically increases the risk of cardiac arrest as the body desperately attempts to slow the amount of heat escaping to keep the vital organs functioning as normal.
At the same time, heart rate increases, putting the organ under immense strain, creating a potentially fatal spike in blood pressure.
As of last year’s figures, 11 people are thought to have died as a result of cold water exposure.
However, researchers in Canada recently found that cold plunges can help ward off disease and slow down biological aging.
The researchers tracked 10 healthy men who took the plunge for 60 minutes a day over the course of a week.
Overtime, analysis of blood biomarkers showed there was a reduction in inflammation and cellular damage.
Dr Kelli King, who lead the study, said: ‘Cold exposure might help prevent diseases and potentially even slow down aging at a cellular level. It’s like a tune-up for your body’s microscopic machinery.’
He suggested that the stress response from the cold water was responsible for the boost in cell function.
