Jessica Dean Goes To The Frozen Zone

By Jessica Dean

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  It's pretty cold outside.

But for some people it's not bad at all.

They're accustomed to temperatures several hundred degrees below zero!

It's actually a type of therapy.

CBS 3 Anchor Jessica Dean took the plunge to report on why some people love heading into the "frozen zone."

Bernadette Stasny of Feasterville, Bucks County has entered the deep freeze once a week since December.

It's actually called whole body cryotherapy and it's 2 to 3 minutes of exposure to freezing nitrogen gas.

The temperature actually dips to 340 degrees below zero.

"A walk in the park,  but a chilly walk in the park," jokes Stasny inside a freezing chamber.

The extreme temperature is said to shock the body and stimulate the immune system among other things.

"It reduces pain immediately in joints and muscles," says Stasny who suffers from joint pain. "And I also did a series and I found I have lasting effects for at least 2 months."

"I am addicted," says Heidi Krupp,  another fan of body cryotherapy.

"It helps me stay youthful, young," says Krupp. "It also let's you lose a little bit of weight, it's just like a great lift for you, it's amazing."

Lucy Goldstein is the owner of Cryo Spa Natural Healing in Southampton, Bucks County.

She says the treatment has been used in Europe for 30 years for conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis.

"You get so many benefits from it,  so much energy balances out our hormonal level," says Goldstein.  "It creates painfree experience for people who suffer from pain."

So I decided to give it a try.

After climbing into the chamber the temperature started to drop.

Soon it began to feel like somebody pouring ice water down your legs.

But pain management specialist Dr. Houman Danesh says he wants to see more studies on the health benefits and warns there are precautions that must be taken.

"For example if you have high blood pressure, if you have poor circulation in your fingers, if you have asthma, if you have blood clots anywhere, if you're pregnant it's not something you should do," according to Dr. Danesh.

But Stasny is a true believer.

"I'm definitely energized and that lasts a few hours, I feel like I'm ready to tackle the world," said Stasny after climbing out of the frozen zone.

One session costs $55 or you can get 3 for $150.

If you want to learn more, visit: http://www.buckscountyspa.com/cryo-sauna.html