Cooling the torso vs. neck?

When it comes to cooling the body efficiently, specifically comparing the torso and neck, Andrew Huberman emphasizes that cooling certain parts of the body is far more effective. Cooling the torso or neck may not be the best approach and can counterintuitively increase core body temperature.

Key Points:

• Cooling the Neck:

  • Placing a cold towel or ice pack on the neck can cool the blood going to the brain, which might lead to the brain increasing body temperature to compensate. This can make overheating worse 1 .
  • Although cooling the neck can make you feel subjectively cooler, it might trick your brain's thermostat, leading to further overheating 2 .

• Cooling the Torso:

  • Cooling the torso with an ice pack can also lead to vasoconstriction, slowing down heat loss, and making core body temperature management less effective 3 .
    • 

      1

      Cooling Strategies Explained

      01:36:56
      
    • 

      2

      Cooling Misconceptions

      00:18:42
      
    • 

      3

      Cooling the Brain

      00:24:20
      
    • 

      4

      Rapid Cooling Techniques

      01:30:32
      
    • 

      5

      Cold for Recovery

      00:59:22
      

Optimal Cooling Areas:

• Palms of Hands, Bottoms of Feet, and Upper Face:
  • These areas have special vasculature (arteriovenous anastomoses or AVAs) that can quickly alter core body temperature without causing vasoconstriction. This allows for efficient heat transfer 4 .
  • Cooling these areas is more effective in reducing core body temperature quickly compared to the neck or torso 5 .

Practical Advice:

To cool down effectively, it's recommended to use cold towels or ice packs on the palms, bottoms of the feet, and the upper face rather than the neck or torso. This approach exploits the efficiency of AVAs in these specific regions to manage core body temperature better 2 .