Woman lays bare the perils of living in the world’s COLDEST city where temperatures plummet as low as -83F – from aging faster to suffering extreme frostbite

A young woman living in the coldest city in the world has revealed some of the negative effects that extreme cold has on the body, along with months of very little sunlight.

YouTube creator Kiun B lives in the Siberian city of Yakutsk, where temperatures can drop below -64.4 degrees Celsius in winter and thaw slightly in summer, with the daily average around 68 degrees Celsius ( 20°C ).

In a new video, she also explains that “a thick fog obscures the sun for most of the year” and that the metropolis resembles “a scene from a science fiction movie.”

During the short film, Kiun looks at the damaging effects of cold and darkness on her physical and mental well-being, starting with frostbite.

Kiun shows a series of rather gruesome video clips of locals affected by severe frostbite on their fingers: ‘ILife in Yakutsk does not stop [when it gets cold].

‘WWe still go outside, to school and to work. Getting frostbite and hypothermia in Yakutsk is almost as common as the cold itself.”

Kiun says she often experiences “mild frostbite” on the exposed parts of her face, mainly her nose and cheeks.

When she starts to feel numbness – one of the symptoms of frostbite – she rushes to a warm place like a shopping center or a heated bus station to avoid serious damage.

The filmmaker says the condition is a major problem among the homeless community, which is why the government has taken steps to “build more shelters to provide warmth and protection.”

The hospitals also have specialized departments and specific doctors to treat ‘even the worst cases’. Furthermore, ‘every citizen and resident has access to free basic healthcare.’

Because some communities in the Yakutsk region are very dispersed, Kiun said some people die during long journeys, as some journeys can take up to 48 hours.

The Siberian resident reveals: ‘In such cold, car batteries can freeze, trapping travelers… which can be fatal. Unfortunately, about hundreds of people freeze to death in Yakutsk every year.”

In addition to serious damage from the cold, respiratory problems are widespread in Yakutsk, according to Kiun.

She explains why this is the case: ‘The icy air can put quite a strain on your breathing.

‘So on the really cold days here we often cover our faces completely and that protects not only our skin but also our lungs.

“I have also often heard from the newcomers who visited Yakutsk for the first time that it is difficult to breathe air.”

Moving on to the next topic, Kiun discusses vitamin deficiencies.

Kiun tells viewers about this topic: ‘Vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin D, is also a major problem in Yakutsk due to our extreme climate and limited exposure to sunlight during the long winter months.

‘As you may know, vitamin D is crucial for our bone health, immune function and overall well-being. I have been dealing with vitamin D and anemia for as long as I can remember.”

Many people in Yakutsk don’t eat many vegetables, Kiun says, which also means they miss out on certain nutrients.

In an attempt to help her body, Kiun takes vitamin D and iron pills.

In the documentary, she attends a medical check-up with her sister and the doctors confirm that the pills have helped with her vitamin D level as tests show it to be above average.

However, her sister’s levels are very low and she tells viewers she will need supplements to improve it.

Another complaint related to the lack of sunlight, Kiun says, is a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder.

She says: ‘In winter you can become very depressed from the lack of sunlight and the constant cold.

‘It’s hard to even go outside when you have to dress in hundreds of layers, so we spend quite a bit of time indoors.

‘But if you stay inside all the time you can feel really tired and sleepy and I can feel my mood dropping.’

Kiun says that finding mental health help in Yakutsk “is not easy” and “especially in the remote areas.”

However, in recent years, access to resources has become easier thanks to the internet and she has been using the mental health platform BetterHelp for more than a year.

“Connecting with a therapist online has helped tremendously… ChTherapy sessions have helped me understand myself better and explain the reasons behind my feelings,” she says.

One of the third issues Kiun tackles is infertility.

She claims that the cold weather can affect ‘internal organs’, along with vitamin deficiencies.

However, IVF clinic Neelkanth IVF says cold weather and infertility are often wrongly linked.

The clinic website says: ‘While the idea that cold weather negatively impacts fertility may be intriguing, the scientific evidence does not support this idea as an important factor in conceiving.

‘Instead, age, reproductive health, lifestyle choices, timing and emotional well-being are more critical aspects to consider when trying to conceive.’

While celebrities and health enthusiasts alike have turned to cryotherapy and cold water therapy for anti-aging lately, Kiun says the subzero temperatures aren’t as pleasant as they are.

Referring to recent findings, she says: ‘Research has shown that we in Yakutsk are aging faster.

‘Although cryotherapy is known for its health benefits, including slowing aging, our situation is more complex. Research has shown that our long-term adaptation to the harsh climate means we age biologically three to four years faster than whites.

‘It is believed that this accelerated aging is due to our increased metabolism, as our bodies work harder to generate the energy needed for heat.

“It’s very interesting… because I always thought that living in Yakutsk slows down aging.”

To date, Kiun’s video about life in Yakutsk has been viewed more than 160,000 times, with many viewers thanking her for the insights.

One viewer wrote: ‘I enjoy watching your videos. I could never live anywhere near that cold.”

Another fan added: ‘I love the channel btw, very interesting and informative. It helps me to survive the (for you very mild, even warm) Hungarian winter!’