Dorset has lots of swimming opportunities along its coast‚ so much so that as one’s enthusiasm grows for cold water swimming. Swimming in the English Channel should become your daily workout and tonic for both your mental and physical well-being․ For many of the swimmers‚ going to the online casino is their choice for relaxation after swimming in winter․
In places like Weymouth‚ Lyme Regis, and all around the Dorset coast‚ the locals will expect nothing less than that you get used to how your body adapts to the cold weather‚ if you want to survive․ This article will talk about what you need to know about cold water‚ along with some of the benefits and things to keep you safe․
Immunity and Circulation Boosting
The immune system is strengthened by spending hours in cold water․ The body works hard to maintain the core temperature when the brain senses it is in cold water․ As such‚ your white blood cell counts will actually increase․ Some people like to get this natural health increase‚ and then hit an online casino for a few hours during the night․
First‚ blood vessels constrict, narrow․ Later‚ they dilate, expand‚ clearing your capillaries so that the blood speed increases‚ allowing oxygen to reach the organs․ It is also said to make your skin look awake and alive․
Reducing Stress
Immersion in cold water causes the ‘fight or flight’ response to occur‚ such that a part of the brain becomes more capable of resisting or coping with other stresses․ This is an example of hormesis‚ and is a training method sometimes used to make the nervous system more resilient to other stresses by exposing it to small, regular doses of stress․
Many swimmers say that this focus helps them when they then go and have to play at an online casino later in the day․ You get used to it‚ the shock of the first fear goes‚ you get a rush of endorphins and dopamine, and you feel much better․ Groups like the Frosties in West Dorset swim year-round because they get a natural high from it․
Enhancing Muscle Recovery
Cold seawater is nature’s ice bath to recover muscle tissue and repair swelling after a day on the bike or after hiking․ Being in it may also numb the nerve endings‚ and it may also help to relieve minor pains and chronic joint pain immediately․
Some people cool off by a short swim in the ocean and return to the hotel to play at an online casino․ As the blood returns from the legs and the feet to the centre of the body‚ the swelling in these parts decreases quickly․
This is one reason that athletes wishing to recover quickly between outdoor events may swim in the cold water off Ringstead Bay.
Managing Cold Water Shock
Suffice it to say that for any swimmer‚ one of the most important lessons is learning how to survive the first 90 seconds in the water․ For example‚ when water is colder than 15 °C ‚ the moment you enter it‚ your body immediately gasps, and your heart pumps faster, the cold shock response․
In such circumstances‚ you should try to avoid swimming‚ and practice the Float to Live technique instead․ Heads should be tilted back‚ arms stretched, and your mouth wide open‚ until you can breathe again․ Some people say that concentrating on your breathing during this time is as hard as concentrating on an online casino․
Planning for Tides and Currents
The sea off the coast of Dorset has a large tidal range and has powerful rip currents which can carry a swimmer some distance from the beach and which regularly produce very different beach conditions off the same beach e․g․ the resort of Bournemouth can produce dramatic changes in only hours․
Even those who are good swimmers check the weather before heading out‚ sit by the coffee and play a casino game on their phone․ In places like West Bay, the rows of shingles lining the beach create a strong back flow‚ making the swim back to shore more difficult․
If you go swimming in summer‚ do so at a lifeguarded beach․ If you go swimming in winter‚ swim with other local people who may be able to help if you get into trouble․
Proper Equipment and Visibility
Wearing the right clothes can reduce the risk of exposure to cold water and enable a longer swim․ It is recommended to wear a brightly coloured swimming hat and a tow float so that the swimmer is visible on the beach or in a boat․
Neoprene boots and gloves lower the risk of cold water causing the fingers or toes to go numb‚ which is one of the main reasons why people cannot swim far․ A tow float gives something to hold onto when someone is too tired or is cramping far from the shore․
Warming Up Gradually Post-Swim
Afterdrop: Your core temperature can continue to drop for many minutes after you have left the water․ The best thing to do is dry off as soon as possible․ Get out of your wet clothes and put on a bunch of warm, dry clothes right away․ Others sip a hot drink and play at an online casino in private while their body temperature returns to normal․
Avoid a very hot shower immediately‚ as this can cause blood to rush to the skin and may cause you to black out․ The best and safest way to get your body temperature back up after a Channel swim is to go for a brisk walk or have a warm drink․
