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Will Stone

Want a polar bear plunge on New Year's Day? Here's a deep dive on cold water dips

NPR Mike Kane Mark Harper
A mermaid takes the annual polar bear plunge at Brooklyn's Coney Island beach last year. More people take cold plunges on a regular basis for health benefits, but hype outpaces research for now. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Your body's first reaction to a plunge in chilly water is the "cold shock" response. Your heart rate jumps. Stress hormones spike. You gasp suddenly, and may hyperventilate.

Your reward if you stay in long enough to endure these initial excruciating moments? You start to shiver.

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