Does Swimming Really Slow Aging?

July 02, 2022 4 min read

In addition to reducing blood pressure, swimming can help you increase lung capacity, improve your memory, and lower your cholesterol. These are just a few benefits of swimming. Read on to discover how swimming can help you slow down the aging process and improve your quality of life. But the real question is: does swimming really slow down the aging process? This article will explore the advantages of swimming for you.

Increased Lung Capacity

Research shows that swimming increases lung capacity. As we age, our lung capacity decreases. However, swimming helps to increase lung capacity and increase aerobic capacity. Studies have shown that regular swimmers have higher lung capacity than their chronological age. Swimming also slows down ageing by helping the body recover from stress. Older people take longer to return to resting heart rates and blood pressure. To keep the benefits of swimming long-term, listen to your body and take breaks between sets.

Improved Memory

Swimming has been linked to a boost in cognitive functions, but the exact benefits have yet to be discovered. One recent study on rats found that swimming improves both short-term and long-term memories. Improvements were noticeable as early as the seventh day, and the improvements continued throughout the experiment, although after 14 and 28 days, memory had plateaued. Further studies are needed to better determine whether swimming can enhance memory in humans. The benefits of swimming, however, cannot be overlooked and if possible, go swimming every day if you can.

The study involved 42 mice aged two months, divided into a sham group and a group that underwent BCAS surgery. The sham mice were wild-type littermates, and the operation group had separated carotid arteries. Twenty-four mice in each group received swimming training. The results of this study suggest that swimming can enhance spatial memory. In addition to the beneficial effects of swimming, it is believed to prevent damage to the brain caused by strokes.

Reduced Blood Pressure

It is a fact that regular swimming can lower blood pressure. Repeated workouts in the pool can slow the hardening of blood vessels, one of the main factors for blood pressure increase with age. A recent study suggests that swimming can reduce blood pressure by nine points for those with high blood pressure. It is a good idea to talk to a doctor before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have high blood pressure or are considering starting one.

One study found that swimming can lower blood pressure in sedentary older adults. Researchers found that their casual systolic BP decreased by a third from 131 to 122 mmHg after 12 weeks of swimming. In addition, they observed improvements in cardiovascular risk factors such as flow-mediated dilation and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity. However, no significant changes were seen in blood pressure levels in the control group.

Improved Cholesterol

Several studies have shown that swimming improves cholesterol levels, and this may be one reason why the competitive sport is such a good way to slow the aging process. In one study, compared the cholesterol levels of 1,346 Masters swimmers to those of their landlubber peers. The swimmers' total cholesterol was found to be eight to 10 percent lower than those of their non-swimmer counterparts. In addition, their HDL cholesterol levels were much higher than their landlubber counterparts.

Swimming strengthens the heart and helps it function more efficiently. A stronger heart doesn't have to pump blood as often, which means it will run more efficiently and put less stress on it throughout your lifetime. Researchers from the University of Texas have studied how swimming affects the heart and have discovered a direct correlation. The benefits of swimming go beyond cholesterol levels. They also benefit the circulatory system and lower the risk of strokes and heart disease.

Improved Mood

A recent study suggests that swimming can reduce the effects of ageing by improving our mood. The researchers observed a significant improvement in the mood of people after just 20 minutes of cold water immersion. In addition to these results, the study analyzed the effect of swimming on connectedness with nature, age, and overall mood in healthy young adults. This study is the first to assess whether swimming actually slows ageing by improving mood.

The researchers recruited 64 undergraduate students from an undergraduate sports degree program at the University of Chichester. Participants were initially screened using a questionnaire aimed at determining their health history. However, the researchers excluded people with certain conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, non-freezing cold injuries, and medications that affect their mood. The researchers believe that swimming can help slow down the process of ageing by improving one's mood.

Improved Immune Response

Adaptive immunity is one of the most important facets of the aging process. Adaptive immune cells are responsible for the body's defense against foreign substances and germs. With age, this defense declines, and the immune system becomes ineffective in maintaining full tolerance to self-antigens. Consequently, ageing patients suffer from a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the immune system declines in the elderly due to alterations in the composition and function of mature lymphocyte pools.

The immune system functions best in adulthood. In Western populations, the median age of cancer is approaching 70 years. The cause of this decline in immunity is unclear, but likely involves genetic and cellular damage. The immune system's capacity to detect tumours may be compromised due to ageing, and anti-tumour responses are often directed against the self. The general decline in the immune system may also result in a decreased ability to fight tumours, which leads to increased inflammation and cancer risk.



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