Jumping into the sea ?
Discussion
A mate on holiday in Spain saw a guy aged about 60 jump into the sea from a boat and the guy took a turn ie he had to be pulled out and it looked as though he was being treated for a heart attack. My mate assumed that the guy had a shock with the water temp...
I am in my 50's , reasonably fit & healthy and spend holidays in Turkey jumping from boats into the Med like a lot of other tourists ...
With air temp around 30C is it safe to jump into the sea as I must admit the initial shock of jumping into the water can be very breathtaking ..?
Thanks
Brian..
I am in my 50's , reasonably fit & healthy and spend holidays in Turkey jumping from boats into the Med like a lot of other tourists ...
With air temp around 30C is it safe to jump into the sea as I must admit the initial shock of jumping into the water can be very breathtaking ..?
Thanks
Brian..
Didn't they do this on some of the plethora of Titanic programmes on earlier in the year?
Granted they were simulating jumping into water at barely above freezing (infact they weren't allowed to use it that cold for H+S) and yes there was a chance of arrest on initial entry but you were more likely to drown as the initial reaction is to breathe in.
I can't see that any temperature around a holiday resort would ahve nearly enough diffeentail in air to sea temp to ause any issues unless your heart is in really bad shape anyway.
Granted they were simulating jumping into water at barely above freezing (infact they weren't allowed to use it that cold for H+S) and yes there was a chance of arrest on initial entry but you were more likely to drown as the initial reaction is to breathe in.
I can't see that any temperature around a holiday resort would ahve nearly enough diffeentail in air to sea temp to ause any issues unless your heart is in really bad shape anyway.
k me thats cold' reaction.Cold water shock can cause a heart attack when the blood that was suddenly cooled in the extremities reaches the heart
And don't underestimate the Med, it's capable of giving cold water shock and hypothermia, even in summer - just not as well as the colder oceans/seas
Source: Me crewing in the med for the last 18 months
And don't underestimate the Med, it's capable of giving cold water shock and hypothermia, even in summer - just not as well as the colder oceans/seas
Source: Me crewing in the med for the last 18 months
If the individual deliberately jumped into the sea,ie they knew they were going to jump, then adrenaline would have caused a rise in hr before they jumped.Perhaps the risk is heightened really only in cases of accidental immersion in cold water? I'd still be willing to bet good money the chances of a heart attack upon entering cold water are negligible if you have a healthy heart.
Found this online ( http://www.divingmedicine.info/Ch%2035%20SM10c.pdf ) which is obviously related to diving but very interesting.
'Sudden incapacity and death of divers soon after entering cold water has been frequently
reported. The body has several immediate responses to cold water which could explain this.
During cold water immersion there is an increased sympathetic nervous system activity
resulting in the release of adrenalin. This causes the potentially deleterious cardiac effects
described above. A greater sympathetic response has been described in individuals who are
not adapted to cold water exposure or who are unfit.
Sudden death from vagal stimulation associated with the diving reflex can occur after
immersion of the face in cold water, although it can also be produced by immersion of the
trunk in cold water.
Sudden immersion in cold water is thought to be associated with a sudden death syndrome
associated with reflex coronary artery spasm, fatal arrhythmias or myocardial
infarction.
Divers will be familiar with the involuntary over breathing which can accompany sudden
immersion in cold water or even a cold shower. In experimental animals, and also in man,
the heart becomes more prone to arrhythmias caused by the reduction in blood carbon
dioxide from this involuntary hyperventilation.
Hypothermia also makes the heart more prone to arrhythmias and may combine with some
of the other problems mentioned above to cause sudden death. '
'Sudden incapacity and death of divers soon after entering cold water has been frequently
reported. The body has several immediate responses to cold water which could explain this.
During cold water immersion there is an increased sympathetic nervous system activity
resulting in the release of adrenalin. This causes the potentially deleterious cardiac effects
described above. A greater sympathetic response has been described in individuals who are
not adapted to cold water exposure or who are unfit.
Sudden death from vagal stimulation associated with the diving reflex can occur after
immersion of the face in cold water, although it can also be produced by immersion of the
trunk in cold water.
Sudden immersion in cold water is thought to be associated with a sudden death syndrome
associated with reflex coronary artery spasm, fatal arrhythmias or myocardial
infarction.
Divers will be familiar with the involuntary over breathing which can accompany sudden
immersion in cold water or even a cold shower. In experimental animals, and also in man,
the heart becomes more prone to arrhythmias caused by the reduction in blood carbon
dioxide from this involuntary hyperventilation.
Hypothermia also makes the heart more prone to arrhythmias and may combine with some
of the other problems mentioned above to cause sudden death. '
Yes an interesting read tl,though I'm fairly sure existing risk factors,ie heart disease,arrythmia etc are the most important primary causes.
University of Portsmouth
Autonomic Conflict: http://www.port.ac.uk/uopnews/2012/05/30/scientist...
Professor Shattock said, “These heart rate irregularities caused by Autonomic Conflict occur quite frequently on immersion in cold water but may only become lethal when other predisposing factors exist such as a large heart, pre-existing heart disease or a subtle and otherwise benign genetic mutation. We also think that Autonomic Conflict may be a cause of sudden death in other, non water-related situations.”
However I've not found anything on the 'cold blood returning to the heart' theory!
University of Portsmouth
Autonomic Conflict: http://www.port.ac.uk/uopnews/2012/05/30/scientist...
Professor Shattock said, “These heart rate irregularities caused by Autonomic Conflict occur quite frequently on immersion in cold water but may only become lethal when other predisposing factors exist such as a large heart, pre-existing heart disease or a subtle and otherwise benign genetic mutation. We also think that Autonomic Conflict may be a cause of sudden death in other, non water-related situations.”
However I've not found anything on the 'cold blood returning to the heart' theory!
the_lone_wolf said:
Cold water shock can cause a heart attack when the blood that was suddenly cooled in the extremities reaches the heart
And don't underestimate the Med, it's capable of giving cold water shock and hypothermia, even in summer - just not as well as the colder oceans/seas
Source: Me crewing in the med for the last 18 months
i'd agree with that.And don't underestimate the Med, it's capable of giving cold water shock and hypothermia, even in summer - just not as well as the colder oceans/seas
Source: Me crewing in the med for the last 18 months
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