The hot, sunny days of summer are a great time to jump into the water and swim your way to better health. Dr. Sabih Alam, an Internal Medicine Physician with AllianceHealth Durant Clinics, says swimming is easy on your joints and one of the best ways to get and stay in shape and prevent chronic disease.
Cardiovascular health increases through swimming because your entire body is working against the resistance of the water, and your heart and lungs work harder to supply the necessary oxygen to your muscles. Elevating your heart rate with exercise makes your heart stronger and more efficient at pumping blood through the body and this can also lower blood pressure.
Over time, swimming’s fullbody workout can tone muscles, increase strength and flexibility and build endurance. Stretching, twisting and pulling your body through the water uses a full range of motions and engages all your major muscle groups, including shoulders, back, abdominals, legs, hips and glutes.
“As with any exercise, your overall health improves when you swim regularly and stay active,” said Dr. Alam. “Swimming can be particularly refreshing in the heat of the summer and it pays off with stronger heart and lungs, a boost to your mood and better sleep.”
Dr. Alam points out that swimming is an exercise for people at every age and for people of different physical abilities. Water supports up to 90% of your body weight and takes the strain off of joints that can be aggravated with land-based exercises, making swimming a good option to keep moving for those with arthritis, osteoarthritis or those recovering from injuries.
Propelling your body through water is gentle on the joints because the buoyancy of water keeps you suspended and allows movement with minimal impact. That buoyancy allows you to engage in strenuous activity such as vigorous kicks and arm strokes without the high-impact stress or risk of traumatic injuries that similar movements would create on land.
You may find your mood and mental health improve through the rhythmic breath work between swim strokes and your concentration on body movements. These actions have similarities to mindfulness, which can reduce stress and improve your mental well-being.
Regular physical activity is an important part of maintaining a healthy weight and your overall health, including getting a better night’s sleep. Swimming, done with moderate to vigorous intensity of aerobic exercise can contribute to better sleep quality and increased sleep duration.
If you need a primary care physician to help you manage your health and live healthier, https://www.AllianceHealth-MedicalGroup.com/doctors-providers.
About AllianceHealth Durant
AllianceHealth Durant is an acute care, 138-bed hospital accredited by The Joint Commission that provides care to people in Durant and surrounding communities. As the largest hospital in southeastern Oklahoma, inpatient and outpatient services provided include emergency, heart care, women’s health, surgical, laboratory and diagnostic imaging. AllianceHealth Durant is certified as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by The Joint Commission and is an American College of Cardiology-accredited Chest Pain Center. Working to make a positive impact on the communities we serve, other access points include several convenient primary and specialty care outpatient clinics. For more information, please visit AllianceHealthDurant. com. AllianceHealth Durant is owned in part by physicians.