Cardiovascular parameters
COLD
Unfortunately, there are no comparable studies assessing the effects of the WHM on cardiovascular parameters. However, previous studies on the different components of the WHM can inform the interpretation of the results.It has been often proposed that regular cold exposure may possibly comprise a healthier cardiovascular risk profile, as cold exposure triggers a cascade of physiological reactions, eventually leading to an increased parasympathetic and a blunted sympathetic activationIn contrast to our study, the hydrotherapeutic program included not only cold applications but also peripheral warm water baths, such as arm baths and foot baths. Mäkinen and colleaguesThe discrepancies may be attributed to differences in study design, such as the form of exposure (cryotherapy, whole-body cold-water immersion, cold shower), the exposure duration, the body area exposed to cold, the temperature, and the sessions’ frequency