Cold water swimming improves menopause symptoms, finds research

Menopausal girls who usually swim in chilly water report vital enhancements to their bodily and psychological signs, finds a brand new examine led by UCL researchers.

The analysis, revealed in Publish Reproductive Well being, surveyed 1,114 girls, 785 of whom had been experiencing menopause, to look at the results of chilly water swimming on their well being and well-being.

The findings confirmed that menopausal women skilled a big enchancment in anxiousness (as reported by 46.9% of the ladies), mood swings (34.5%), low temper (31.1%) and sizzling flashes (30.3%) on account of chilly water swimming.

As well as, a majority of ladies (63.3%) swam particularly to alleviate their signs.

A number of the girls quoted within the examine stated that they discovered the chilly water to be “a direct stress/anxiousness reliever” and described the exercise as “therapeutic.”

One 57-year-old lady said, “Chilly water is phenomenal. It has saved my life. Within the water, I can do something. All signs (bodily and psychological) disappear and I really feel like me at my finest.”

Senior creator Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute for Girls’s Well being), stated, “Chilly water has beforehand been discovered to enhance temper and cut back stress in outside swimmers, and ice baths have lengthy been used to assist athletes’ muscle restore and restoration. Our examine helps these claims; in the meantime the anecdotal proof additionally highlights how the exercise can be utilized by girls to alleviate physical symptoms, reminiscent of sizzling flushes, aches and pains.

“Extra analysis nonetheless must be achieved into the frequency, length, temperature and publicity wanted to elicit a discount in signs. Nonetheless, we hope our findings might present an alternate answer for ladies battling the menopause and encourage extra girls to participate in sports activities.”

Many of the girls concerned within the examine had been more likely to swim in each summer time and winter and put on swimsuits, reasonably than moist fits.

Alongside aiding menopausal symptoms, the ladies stated their primary motivations for chilly water swimming had been being exterior, enhancing mental health and exercising.

Professor Harper stated, “Nearly all of girls swim to alleviate signs reminiscent of anxiousness, temper swings and sizzling flushes. They felt that their signs had been helped by the bodily and psychological results of the chilly water, which was extra pronounced when it was colder. How usually they swam, how lengthy for and what they wore had been additionally necessary. Those who swam for longer had extra pronounced results. The wonderful thing about chilly water swimming is it will get folks exercising in nature, and sometimes with pals, which may construct an incredible group.”

The researchers additionally wished to research whether or not chilly water swimming improved girls’s menstrual signs.

Of the 711 girls who had skilled menstrual signs, practically half stated that chilly water swimming improved their anxiousness (46.7%), and over a 3rd stated that it helped their temper swings (37.7%) and irritability (37.6%).

But regardless of the advantages of chilly water swimming, the researchers had been additionally eager to focus on that the game comes with sure dangers.

Professor Harper defined, “Warning have to be taken when chilly water swimming, as contributors may put themselves vulnerable to hypothermia, chilly water shock, cardiac rhythm disturbances and even drowning. Relying on the place they’re swimming, water high quality requirements can also fluctuate. Uncooked sewage air pollution is an more and more widespread concern in UK rivers and seas. And, sadly, this will improve the chance of gastroenteritis and different infections.”

The examine might include some bias as a result of survey solely being taken by girls who already interact in chilly water swimming. And, because the survey was carried out on-line, it’s possible that girls had been extra more likely to full the survey in the event that they seen an affiliation between menopause signs and cold water swimming.