Adam’s Journal
We just survived what I hope will be the last arctic blast of this winter. And, wow, was it freezing out there. Is there any way we can prepare our bodies to better weather (sorry – Dad joke) the cold?
Dr. Scofield Prescribes
The good news is that there are things we can do to help our bodies better acclimatize to the cold. The bad news is that they’re not terribly comfortable.
A series of studies have found that consistent exposure to cooler temperatures will “train” the body to feel less discomfort in the cold, a process known as habituation. The studies also determined that people who undergo this sort of cold weather acclimation will shiver less.
However, to get these sorts of adaptations, the participants in these research studies underwent cold training that could sound worse than simply dealing with frigid winter days: They spent lots of time in chilly water.
For the studies, participants immersed themselves in cool baths, with water temperatures usually slightly below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (a little colder than the ocean waters beachgoers encounter in northern New England). They spent anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes in the water for periods ranging from 10 to 40 days.
Brrr!
A few studies have also looked at habituating the body through exposure to cold air. It appears the same sorts of results can be achieved, but it takes longer periods of exposure; from an efficiency perspective, water seems to work better, as it’s denser and a better conductor of cold.
Regardless of how they’re achieved, though, the acclimation effects have distinct limitations. They don’t seem to help condition extremities like fingers and toes to better adapt to the cold, nor do they protect against some of the more extreme risks – like frostbite and hypothermia – that freezing temperatures can present.
Finally, any benefits of acclimation wear off over time. So, if you want to be prepared next winter, you’ll need to get the cold baths ready come November or so.
As you say, let’s hope we’ve seen the end of sub-zero temperatures for this season. Before you know it, we’ll be writing about heat acclimation!
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Dr. Hal Scofield is a physician-scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and he also serves as Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Adam Cohen is OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel. Send your health questions to contact@omrf.org.
