Alexei Didenko, a deputy for the Russian State Duma, dumps a bucket of cold water on himself
Alexei Didenko, a deputy for the Russian State Duma, dumps a bucket of cold water on himself in front of the American embassy in Moscow, September 3, 2014. Didenko said he was performing the ice bucket challenge not only to raise awareness for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) research, but also to protest against new U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Tefft, and what Didenko calls "anti-Russian American propaganda". REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev (RUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) Reuters

The Ice Bucket Challenge had taken social media by storm as the challenge is spreading across the globe. From celebrities to lay men, everyone is taking part in the challenge to raise awareness and contribute to the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or more commonly, the Lou Gehrig's Disease.

More than a month after the challenge was doing the rounds, the Russian health and safety watch dog has issued a warning to its citizens to be careful of the challenge, reported The Moscow Times. Russians were warned, "not to try this at home."

Anna Popova, a spokesperson for Rospotrebnadzor, told the TASS news agency last Wednesday that the challenge causes high stress levels in the individual performing the challenge. Popova stated that even doctors warned that the challenge is dangerous and they advice people to stay away from it.

Several experts have highlighted the dangers of the challenge. Professor Mike Tipton, a physiologist at the University of Portsmouth told Forbes Magazine that pouring cold water on the head would result in a sudden drop of skin temperature. This causes a sudden shock response and it is dangerous as you would not be able to breathe. Tipton is the co-author of Essentials of Sea Survival.

Pointing towards the death of Willis Tepania, 40 years old, who died last July 7 after taking part in the challenge, former neonatal pediatrician Dr. Stephen Wealthall stated that the challenge could take someone else's life. He told New Zealand Herald that the sudden closure of the larynx due to throwing water on the head slows the heart rate. A person could die due to this, he explains.

Popova recommended that those who want to take part in the challenge for charity should prepare themselves for 21 days prior to the challenge. This would help the body get accustomed to low temperatures. This would help avoid any sort of problems or negative impacts on the body.

Several people have taken up the Ice Bucket Challenge. The ALS foundation has raised $115 million in the past two months, due to the challenge, the Moscow Times reported.

Among the many participants, U.S. actor Vin Diesel, The Fault in Our Stars actor, Ansel Elgort and many more celebrities had also taken up the challenge. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin was nominated by television personality Seth Meyers to take part in the challenge.