Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers
IntroductionDiving close to the Arctic circle means diving in cold water regardless of the time of year. The human body reacts to cold through autonomous nervous system (ANS)-mediated thermoregulatory mechanisms. Diving also induces ANS responses as a result of the diving reflex.Materials and Method...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:bbead21cd3a84c8e9d62946003329805 2023-05-15T14:51:06+02:00 Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers Richard V. Lundell Anne K. Räisänen-Sokolowski Tomi K. Wuorimaa Tommi Ojanen Kai I. Parkkola 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 https://doaj.org/article/bbead21cd3a84c8e9d62946003329805 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-042X 1664-042X doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 https://doaj.org/article/bbead21cd3a84c8e9d62946003329805 Frontiers in Physiology, Vol 10 (2020) diving reflex diving response sympathetic response parasympathetic response Arctic diving cold water immersion Physiology QP1-981 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 2022-12-31T00:57:42Z IntroductionDiving close to the Arctic circle means diving in cold water regardless of the time of year. The human body reacts to cold through autonomous nervous system (ANS)-mediated thermoregulatory mechanisms. Diving also induces ANS responses as a result of the diving reflex.Materials and MethodsIn order to study ANS responses during diving in Arctic water temperatures, we retrospectively analyzed repeated 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) measures and the mean body temperature from dives at regular intervals using naval diving equipment measurement tests in 0°C water. Three divers performed seven dives without physical activity (81–91 min), and two divers performed four dives with physical activity after 10 min of diving (0–10 min HRV recordings were included in the study).ResultsOur study showed a significant increase in parasympathetic activity (PNS) at the beginning of the dives, after which PNS activity decreased significantly (measure 5–10 min). Subsequent measurements (15–20 min and onward) showed a significant increase in PNS activity over time.ConclusionOur results suggest that the first PNS responses of the human diving reflex decrease quickly. Adverse effects of PNS activity should be considered on long and cold dives. To avoid concurrent sympathetic (SNS) and PNS activity at the beginning of dives, which in turn may increase the risk of arrhythmia in cold water, we suggest a short adaptation phase before physical activity. Moreover, we suggest it is prudent to give special attention to cardiovascular risk factors during pre-dive examinations for cold water divers. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Frontiers in Physiology 10 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
diving reflex diving response sympathetic response parasympathetic response Arctic diving cold water immersion Physiology QP1-981 |
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diving reflex diving response sympathetic response parasympathetic response Arctic diving cold water immersion Physiology QP1-981 Richard V. Lundell Anne K. Räisänen-Sokolowski Tomi K. Wuorimaa Tommi Ojanen Kai I. Parkkola Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
topic_facet |
diving reflex diving response sympathetic response parasympathetic response Arctic diving cold water immersion Physiology QP1-981 |
description |
IntroductionDiving close to the Arctic circle means diving in cold water regardless of the time of year. The human body reacts to cold through autonomous nervous system (ANS)-mediated thermoregulatory mechanisms. Diving also induces ANS responses as a result of the diving reflex.Materials and MethodsIn order to study ANS responses during diving in Arctic water temperatures, we retrospectively analyzed repeated 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) measures and the mean body temperature from dives at regular intervals using naval diving equipment measurement tests in 0°C water. Three divers performed seven dives without physical activity (81–91 min), and two divers performed four dives with physical activity after 10 min of diving (0–10 min HRV recordings were included in the study).ResultsOur study showed a significant increase in parasympathetic activity (PNS) at the beginning of the dives, after which PNS activity decreased significantly (measure 5–10 min). Subsequent measurements (15–20 min and onward) showed a significant increase in PNS activity over time.ConclusionOur results suggest that the first PNS responses of the human diving reflex decrease quickly. Adverse effects of PNS activity should be considered on long and cold dives. To avoid concurrent sympathetic (SNS) and PNS activity at the beginning of dives, which in turn may increase the risk of arrhythmia in cold water, we suggest a short adaptation phase before physical activity. Moreover, we suggest it is prudent to give special attention to cardiovascular risk factors during pre-dive examinations for cold water divers. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Richard V. Lundell Anne K. Räisänen-Sokolowski Tomi K. Wuorimaa Tommi Ojanen Kai I. Parkkola |
author_facet |
Richard V. Lundell Anne K. Räisänen-Sokolowski Tomi K. Wuorimaa Tommi Ojanen Kai I. Parkkola |
author_sort |
Richard V. Lundell |
title |
Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
title_short |
Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
title_full |
Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
title_fullStr |
Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diving in the Arctic: Cold Water Immersion’s Effects on Heart Rate Variability in Navy Divers |
title_sort |
diving in the arctic: cold water immersion’s effects on heart rate variability in navy divers |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 https://doaj.org/article/bbead21cd3a84c8e9d62946003329805 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Frontiers in Physiology, Vol 10 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600/full https://doaj.org/toc/1664-042X 1664-042X doi:10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 https://doaj.org/article/bbead21cd3a84c8e9d62946003329805 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01600 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Physiology |
container_volume |
10 |
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