The Health Benefits of Swimming

The Health Benefits of Swimming

by Keino Rutherford

While swimming has been known to be a great leisure activity, it has also been known to have it’s fair share of health benefits. Swimming is a great low-impact activity and has a great physical impact for your body while still being easy for your joints. Take a look at these other four health benefits accrued from swimming to learn more about how it could be a great way to get you started on your fitness journey.

1. Balances body composition.

Swimming helps in the reduction of body fat. Going for a few sessions for an hour at least three times a week reduces body fat within four months. Swimming is a vigorous activity though the water immersion is too relaxing for the swimmer to feel. It involves a lot of flexibility and cardiovascular endurance, hence maintaining a healthy body weight. According to various researches, swimmers have lower obesity rates, but they also have lower medication rates.

2. Lowers blood pressure.

From various studies conducted, swimming reduces systolic blood pressure. A study involving 62 women grouped into three; high- intensity swimmers, moderate swimmers, and control

groups indicated that those involved in swimming sessions reduced their blood pressure within 15 weeks. Those women in the control group had no changes in their blood pressure as their counterparts in the other two groups lowered their blood pressure. Therefore, those with hypertension should regularly attend swimming sessions to help their bodies recover.

3. Lessens the chances of getting respiratory infections.

According to the 2020 International Journal of Environment and Public Health Research, swimming leads to improved endocrine and hematological function and reduced upper respiratory tract infections. Swimming in cold weather can also help participants improve their respiratory health.

The 2016 International Journal on Yoga equates swimming to yoga sessions. Researchers admitted that swimming was more effective in improving respiratory health compared to Yoga.

4. Improvement of health perception.

A 2015 report indicated that swimming improves the way we perceive our health. A better health perception helps swimmers manage their overall health. The way people perceive their health affects the behavior and choices they make. Body fatigue and stress levels are therefore affected by a person’s health perception.

With the above health benefits, people should try to swim regularly. People should train to swim at an early age and avoid it later since they may develop fear as they get old.