Is cold-water swimming worth the sacrifice?

Cold-water swimmers routinely experience brain freeze, numb hands, tingling limbs and incredible adrenaline rushes. But, is cold-water swimming worth the rush?

Immersing your body in cold water for extended periods of time is said to have a stream of benefits.

Ice-water swimmers have clearer skin, thicker heads of hair and are less likely to become ill. But are these benefits really worth the freezing plunge?

Body of Evidence is a video series from BBC Future unravelling medical myths and curious health conditions.

Video script: Arabella Turek, from the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London.