Germany - minus 110. Plus 40 euros. Where's youth?

Once science fiction sent people to suspended animation, so that after centuries they woke up young and healthy. The longevity industry offers a simpler option: not hundreds of years in a dream, but three minutes at minus 110 degrees. Included are promises of accelerated recovery, good health and almost stopping the biological clock. The scenario is spectacular, but there is no scientific evidence for a magical outcome.

The picture is worthy of filming: a bathing suit, gloves, ear protection, a mask - and the door closes. It's so cold inside the chamber that even a penguin would ask for a fur coat. After a couple of minutes, the person returns with tingling skin and the feeling that they have replaced batteries. But feeling younger and really slowing down aging are very different things.

Business is getting chilled

Previously, cryocameras were more common in medical institutions. Now they have settled in fitness clubs and wellness studios under the guise of longevity - the fashionable idea of a long and healthy life. One session usually costs 20-50 euros, a monthly subscription - about 130. When visiting once a week for 40 euros per year runs 2080. A decent price to pay for trying to outsmart the calendar.

What happens to the body? In dry air at a temperature of -85 to - 110 degrees, the vessels of the skin narrow, a stress reaction is triggered, the pressure may increase, the perception of pain changes. Rigidity after the procedure is quite real, but it is not a proof of long-term benefits. Doctor and medical journalist Christoph Specht, commenting on cryotherapy for ZDF, warned that advertising promises are often exaggerated.

The pain subsides - the diagnosis remains

To write off the whole procedure as an expensive ride would also be a mistake. In some rheumatic diseases and chronic pain conditions, cooling the whole body can temporarily reduce discomfort. When the pain lets go, it is easier to move, practice therapeutic gymnastics and lead a normal life. Keyword: Temporary. The cold does not eliminate the cause of the disease, and convincing information about the long-term result is not yet enough. The advantage of the camera over local cold treatments has not been proven. It does not replace prescribed medications and physiotherapy. The possibility of partial coverage of expenses for medical indications should be specified in advance at the health insurance fund (Krankenkasse). Wellness sessions are usually paid for themselves.

Biceps against cold

Athletes have their own scores with pain: after the load, the muscles aching, tomorrow again training. And here's the tempting offer - to recover in three minutes. Cold really sometimes reduces pain. But less pain does not mean a quick return to performance. Referring to studies of ice baths here is incorrect: water takes heat much faster than air. There is also a catch for those who train for strength. Regular intensive cooling immediately after exercise—primarily immersion in cold water—can weaken muscle adaptation to exercise. For short sessions in the cryo chamber, such an effect is not convincingly established. So replacing sleep, eating and rest with expensive cold is a questionable strategy.

Fat doesn't melt, years go by

The main trump card of marketers is the promise to lose weight and slow down old age. Yes, heating requires energy, and so-called brown fat is involved in the production of heat. But from a physiological reaction to noticeable weight loss is a long road. There is no evidence that a two- or three-minute session significantly reduces fat reserves. Promises to boost immunity and improve mental health also require caveats. A short-term mood boost is possible, but that doesn’t mean the procedure cures depression. Convincing data on the long-term strengthening of immune defense is also not available. Nor is it confirmed that regular treatments slow biological aging or prolong life. It turns out that the buyer is offered not extra years, but the feeling that he has already purchased them.

The danger behind the beautiful door

However, in this story, not only the wallet is at risk. A sharp cooling loads the heart and blood vessels. With uncontrolled hypertension, serious cardiovascular diseases, rhythm and sensitivity disorders, acute infections, a preliminary medical evaluation is necessary. Local damage from the cold is also possible. Dry skin, special protection, serviceable equipment and trained personnel are mandatory measures, not entourage details.

In April 2025, an employee died in a Paris fitness club after an incident with cryotherapy equipment, another woman was in serious condition. The investigation checked the version of nitrogen leakage: in some installations, this gas is used for cooling, and in case of an accident, it is able to displace oxygen. Electric cameras are different. However, the tragedy reminded: stylish interior does not guarantee security.

Is it worth paying for the cold? If there are no contraindications, the procedure is agreed with the doctor and helps to temporarily cope with pain - it can be considered as an addition, but not a substitute for treatment. Paying for the sake of feeling is a personal matter. However, for a long and healthy life, the usual habits are much more reliable: movement, strength loads, proper sleep, a balanced diet and the control of chronic diseases. Frost is sold minute by minute, youth is not.

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