Repeated cold temperature body exposure

[Scuba]

What are the "long term" effects, if any, of repeatedly exposing the body to temperature loss such as occurs when diving and feeling cold? I'm aware that it is not necessary to feel cold for temp. loss to occur.

As an example lets say a diver dives 1 to 2 hrs in a day, once or twice a week, in water in the low 60's to 45' F. Where the last 15 min. or so of each dive the body starts feeling increasingly cold, but there is no involuntary chilled muscle reaction, shivers.
Assume the above scenario lasts for 5, 10 years or longer.

How long does it take the body to get back to normal temperature after a certain degree loss in temperature? ei. 2 degree loss would be recuperated in X time period under normal indoor conditions.

Is the feeling of tiredness ( normal not unusual tiredness ) after a dive partly due to the effects of body temperature loss? Does body temp. loss cause one to feel tired?

 

[BillP]

Howdy Scuba:

Good question. A similar question on warm water hypothermia generated an excellent discussion at:

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5721&highlight=hypothermia

Scubadoc has a terrific article on hypothermia by Dr. Jolie Bookspan on his website at:

http://scuba-doc.com/coldjolie.html

Body temperature loss (hypothermia) can indeed occur with diving and does make one feel tired. How long it takes to rewarm from an episode of hypothermia depends on many variables, but many believe that the coldness suffered on one day's diving often carries over to the next day's diving. I'm not aware of any long term effects from previous bouts of repeated mild hypothermia like you describe once you're rewarmed.

HTH,

Bill