Calls for cold water swimming to be made safer for women

Cold water swimming is rising in recognition amongst girls, however extra assist is required to make many wild swimming websites within the UK safer and extra accessible, finds a brand new research led by UCL researchers.

The analysis, revealed in Women’s Health, explored the habits of ladies who get pleasure from chilly water swimming and was carried out in collaboration with researchers from the University of Portsmouth, University of Sussex, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, University of Plymouth and Bournemouth University.

The group surveyed 1,114 girls within the UK aged 16 to 80 years outdated in 2022 and located that almost all girls who participated in wild swimming often did so within the sea (64.4%) and the bulk (89%) swam all 12 months round.

The girls surveyed acknowledged that they swam for longer in the summertime, with the commonest size of time being 30–60 minutes (48.2%). However, within the winter, a majority of swims lasted between 5–quarter-hour (53.8%).

Earlier this 12 months, the identical survey revealed that menopausal girls who often swim in chilly water report important enhancements to their bodily and psychological signs. It was additionally discovered to enhance menstrual signs.

However, whereas there are numerous advantages to the game, there are additionally dangers that may be exacerbated by the swimming setting.

Lead creator, Professor Joyce Harper (UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health) mentioned, “One of the well being dangers linked to chilly water swimming is the elevated chance of gastroenteritis and different infections as a consequence of air pollution in UK rivers and seas. This might be avoidable with higher monitoring of web sites.”

Co-author Dr. Mark Harper (University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust) added, “Barriers to chilly water swimming will be overcome and our early analysis in non-pregnant populations means that the exercise has a considerably optimistic impact on psychological well being.”

Designated bathing waters within the UK are usually monitored throughout the summer time months (May-September). However, many don’t meet the prescribed requirements and researchers imagine this can be worse for undesignated websites.

As a outcome, the researchers are calling for the UK authorities, water corporations, the Environment Agency, and others internationally, to enhance the security and accessibility of open water for individuals who wish to swim outdoor.

Professor Harper mentioned, “Our earlier analysis has discovered that ladies strongly understand chilly water swimming to learn their well being. Exercising in nature, with a neighborhood, is a mix that ought to be inspired. However, it’s at present not nicely supported.

“For instance, within the UK, the federal government bathing-water high quality web site solely runs from May to September, ignoring the winter months the place heavy rainfall and consequent sewage overflow mostly happen.

“Globally, we ought to be making certain that chilly water swimming is accessible and protected. It is time to make this more and more fashionable and useful sport safer and supported for all.”

Co-author Professor Sasha Roseneil (University of Sussex) mentioned, “In current years chilly water swimming has change into a ardour for a lot of hundreds of ladies throughout the UK, bringing quite a few advantages to well-being. While the free and unregulated nature of swimming in open water is a part of its attraction, it’s time for the federal government and regulators to pay severe consideration to the standard of our rivers, lakes and seas, to guard each swimmers at this time, and the ecosystems of those valuable pure sources for the longer term.”

The group are persevering with their analysis into the subject and are concerned in an upcoming research led by Professor Jill Shawe (University of Plymouth) into chilly water swimming and being pregnant.