Today is your day Boomer! As we enter a brand new year today, people, including many Boomers, are preparing for a polar dip....yes, a quick swim in a cold lake or ocean. It is an annual tradition for many-a-hardy person, but there are some drawbacks you should be aware of. First the benefits: pain reduction, this is especially good for Boomers who exhibit a vareity of aches and pains like arthritis. According to swim expert Lee Hill, what else? "It's been used in a couple of conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia, even rheumatism to help with pain, tissue volume and even stiffness of the joints," he says. That's not all. Hill says icy dips raise adrenaline, dopamine and norepinephrine levels to generate a feeling of euphoria. Plus – for some people – it's fun." Yup, just fun and veryyyyyyyyyyyyy cold. The experts also say maximum 2 minutes in the icey water. Other negatives? Those risks include drowning, hypothermia and cold shock severe enough to cause cardiac arrest in some people, according to the Canadian Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Cold shock also places stress on the heart and makes it work harder. People with heart conditions who take medication to lower their blood pressure, like many Boomers, could have a harder time adapting to the shock of a sudden temperature drop. Yikes! This is enough for me to say no to this activity. I'll watch on TV. Good luck today swimmer-Boomers and be prepared. Cheers!