This is my first winter open water swimming & I was a little worried about the effect of the cold on my asthma. But so far I've noticed that the colds I've had haven't gone to my chest as severely as usual. They still go to my chest, but it's been a relief not to be affected so severely. I'm hoping to see this effect continue! I'd be fascinated to see formal research on this!
Crikey, I've been a slave to inhalers for 55yrs (Symbicort and Bricanyl) My mate persuaded me to try wild swimming in a local reservoir. I did it 'for a laugh' and my mate said it made her feel alive! 12 weeks later, going once or twice a week, I haven't used any inhalers at all. Unbelievable, especially in winter!
I’d been on inhalers for 30 years. I started open water swimming in November 21 by January 22 I had come off all my inhalers. I’ve had a whole winter now without medication and no chest infection. It’s been amazing
This is so very interesting , I have only been outside swimming since September so my first winter dipping / swimming - I’ve had asthma as a child which almost disappeared on teenage years but got worse back in to my 30& now 40’s with several hospitalisations. Still too early for me to tell , however I do feel that it makes me breathe better which can only be a good thing & I have only had one cold so far , so that in itself is pretty good!
I have asthma but have always thought hyperventilating at the beginning of getting in would make me worse, but I never struggle with my breathing, my breathing and my heart rate seem to calm rather than get worse which I imagined would happen, and I'm then very calm swimming, I also feel I'm calming my whole self whether it's an inert feeling that mentally I have to calm myself or ill drown, but I'd do come out calm and feel my breathing is better. So interesting.
Yes,yes yes ! Been cold water swimming for almost a year now, and it has made a big difference to my asthma. Still wheeze sometimes going up hills, but generally it feels a lot better. Admittedly it's hard to distinguish between improved mental health & better physical wellbeing, but I feel this is a topic worthy of further research.
I’ve been open water swimming and dipping since March. I have asthma and hay fever, both conditions have markedly improved since I started. I always feel I can breathe deeper and easier after I’ve been in.
This is fascinating - I’m intrigued to read the comments here! I don’t have asthma but I truly believe the reason I am the only one in my family not to have caught flu this Christmas is because I cold water swim most days. It was interesting to hear about the cold water gasp reflex reducing as you acclimatise! I can definitely relate to this! After a year of swimming I no longer gasp as I enter the water even when the temperature is 4 deg. This was a great video Rachel ❤
Wow! Fascinating, and reading all the comments it seems clear that open water swimming is incredibly good for you in so many ways! I don’t have asthma so cannot comment on that topic but I do know I don’t catch colds or coughs and when I did get the dreaded COVID I only had very mild symptoms! Great video!
Wow, how interesting! I don't have asthma but I'm interested in the theory. The only experience I have had of cold water swimming helping me breath was when I got covid on a holiday in our caravan. Being I the cold sea was the only time I could breath normally. It was like magic! I'm interested in hearing more specifics about how the vagal nerve within the Autonomic nervous system interacts with the asthma symptoms. Good luck with getting some funding to look into this!
Hi Rachel, thank you for this video, it’s so interesting! I’ve had mostly mild asthma since a child (in my 50’s now) and after a year of outdoor swimming and dipping I realised that I haven’t used my Salbutamol inhaler in months. I’m totally amazed because the cold weather was always a big trigger for me and I was concerned about the effect the cold water would have on my breathing. But I’ve had no tightness or wheezing at all. I also used to get asthma on exercise, walking or running but not anymore, it’s completely gone. I also suffered from IBS for many years and this too has completely disappeared and I’m off all medication for that too. It’s a fascinating subject and a lot more research is needed into the health benefits of cold water swimming :)
I only have mild asthma often triggered by hayfever but pollen on the water hasn't been an issue When I get an episode I can sometimes settle it by doing deep breathing/ huff exercises I think this may be what helps from the swimming both pool and more so cold water swimming as we often concentrate on breathing technique especially to manage the shock on entering
Interesting theory. i have moderate to severe asthma. I have never had an asthma attack in sea water but I avoid the swimming pool as that is a definite trigger.
Divers reflex definitely reduces to pretty much nil for me with regular swims. Outdoor swimming for 13 years Asthma definitely improved in that time. Difficult to isolate exact reason or whether its causal
I have been openwater swimming for a number of years and diagnosed as brittle asthmatic. This is the first winter I have swum in skins. I have up to now I not had an admission to hospital.
I have been wild swimming since just after lockdown ended... for years I believed I had asthma... this was later re diagnosed as bronchiectasis, I suffer with severe chest infections worsening the condition but during winter when I dip in colder waters, I always note that my coughing eased, I coughed more out of the water than in 😱. Now unlike asthma, bronchiectasis is a widening of the bronchi...yet the cold water still seems to relieve the irritation...I believe the cold water has also raised my tolerance of cold on a whole ❄️ I utterly love wild swimming!!! 😁🌊
Great video Rachel im going to make sure that my brother in law watches it as he is asthmatic & I'm preaching to all my family about the benefits of open water swimming!! No takers yet though 😞
Love that! Sometime you have to look outside the family for swim buddies, family may eventually be converted tho! Thanks for sharing with those who could do with seeing it! 💦😀
This is so interesting. My asthma has certainly been better the past few years since I've been cold swimming (though couldn't say that was the definite link!) It would be great to see some research on this. If more anecdotal evidence is helpful I'd be happy to help!
I’m a long time asthma sufferer, 30ish years. This is a great video and very much appreciated. The indoor pool makes my asthma worse, I need to use my inhaler each swim. My open water journey started 16 months ago. I hadn’t thought about it but I started using my inhaler outdoor swimming when I found the cold triggered an episode. I still carry it but don’t use it anymore. Maybe there is a link. I swim off and on with a group of up to 30 swimmers. If this study takes off I could coordinate data input from my group. I think there would be a lot of interest! Have a great day, off for a dip.
It definitely makes mine worse unfortunately. Triggers a cough both during and after but it's something that's manageable with inhalers so I can deal with it in order to get the rest of the huge benefits. This is both a trigger in winter and summer, summer likely to be more affected by hayfever and pollen levels than the cold though I think.
Lucky me, I’ve got great lungs🫁… my joints are shoddy, but my lungs work great. I definitely think cold water swimming really helps to move air effectively in and out of my lungs, which I know is something we don’t do throughout the day in our regular dry-land activities. Perhaps this increase in effective movement of air, over time, helps to reduce asthma and breathing difficulties. Just a thought. Thanks for the great video today Rachel, this was a very interesting conversation to listen to. 💦🌎Ⓜary🏊♀
I've only been cold water swimming since the 2nd January but I've been fine whole I've been in the very cold water and afterwards. I'm also not as wheezy as I had been before Christmas so hopefully it's a good sign.
When I was sea swimming I felt generally much healthier and able to cope with colds etc. I have severe asthma, and thanks to getting Covid (and long Covid) and some really serious asthma attacks, including one I'm recovering from now, I've done none of my usual exercise - weightlifting and swimming - for almost a year. I plan to re-start at the end of January and will try and keep some notes on my progress and how often I get ill/how quickly I recover.
Excellent video and inspiring comments from the community, thank you. My journey to become a wild water swimming shall start with renewed confidence. I look forward to hearing more on this.
This might be the outliers comment to go into your data im afraid lol Im 42, going thru perimenopause, have systemic lupus, went through triple negative breast cancer, have kidney issues from lupus and have complex ptsd (compounding traumas since childhood). I have been open water swimming only a couple of years... Its very tricky here in Melbourne Australia as the bay fills with toxic pollution every time it rains... Making it unswimmable... So i rely on a combination of pool and bay swims. And i definately breathe much worse in the pool and have an autoimmune response to the chlorine if i stay more than an hour more than 2ce a week. In open water i love the fresh sea air, but have the same breathing difficulties and need to stop and rest every 1-200m... I also do freediving (only currently certified as a lv1 freediver)... And it was during an unfortunate event of overexertion that o discovered i actually have asthma... Suddenly everything in my life related to asthma made sense... the coughing, excess mucus when im stress, cant excercise for long periods of time, cant breathe and wheezing when distressed, takes a quarter of a year to get over the secondary chest infection of the flu/a cold, despite antibiotics treatment etc. etc. I now use a Ventolin puffer and Symbicort, and noticed a drastic difference in my swimming. I can still breathe despite having to stop every couple of hundred metres... Without the puffer i will start wheezing and feel like my throat is closing up without the puffers. The cold water helps my lupus arthritis but the cold air in winter makes me cough and chest tightens up... I am very VERY curious to know about freediving and asthma!! Because now that i use the puffer, im able to get more oxygen supply and feel it helps (mind you i take very little. About one puff of each per day through a spacer). But does what you've been talking about, theoretically, mean that asthmatics are potentially genetically over prepared for freediving?? Total layman's question! Lol does this mean we are at less risk of narcosis/blackouts? Or is it the opposite? Due to less oxygen supply when overexerted, asthmatics dive less well? *Pls note, im talking about freediving not scuba. In either case, having lived most my life without puffers, i think i am still better off with them than without .. my performance is about 5x better in swimming and in freediving... But maybe top early to say... I will say this though, even with medium symptoms during a dive or swim, my near 30yrs of yogic practice (including pranayama and deep meditation) can make the difference between survival or potentially having to be rescued... Thanks for the fascinating video i love how relatable all ur videos are!!!
Hi Liz, thanks for your detailed comment. It will be intersting to see Prof Connett's thoughts on these responses. Watch this space. Also thanks for your lovely comment about my videos x
You should reach out to people with asthma in the Freediving community - we deliberately train the mammalian dive reflex to extend our time underwater and often do it in cold water (speaking as a UK resident!). I noticed my asthma significantly deteriorated when a combination of lockdown and injury paused my weekly freediving activities. Would be very interested to find out more.
Hi Rachel. Thank you so much for your videos and this item which was very interesting. I'm into my second cold water swimming winter. I've suffered quite severely with asthma in the past needing hospital treatment and steroids especially through the winter. I can honestly say I haven't even had a cold and more importantly a chest infection or asthma flair up since enjoying my cold water dips. May this continue. Thanks again.
Really interesting! This is my second winter of open water swimming and unfortunately my asthma has been quite a lot worse since the end of last winter. That coincides with me having covid though so I suspect it's not the swimming that is to blame. I tend to feel better during and for a few hours after a cold swim. One benefit I have had though - it's always been a running joke how cold my feet are in winter. But since swimming right through last winter it's barely bothered me. I'm also finding my feet warm up quicker post swim this winter.
Really interesting. I have complex asthma and open water makes me cough less than pool swimming and in summer i feel more resilient. But feel cold air and water in winter makes me ill. I wonder if i need ro stick with it now 🤔 Thanks Rachel
Been cold/ open water swimming for 3yrs plus, also use it for pain due to fibromyalgia an rheumatoid arthritis, n some days im in agony x Ive noticed, that if I take my blue inhaler, just b4 I go into the water, if its cold n the waters icy n u need to break it to get in, I feel better after I come out, n do for the rest of the day. Im always getting plurisey n pneumonia, but, I feel the water helps with my asthma, n definitely helps with the pain threshold. The days I cant get a swim, wont swim on my own, the pain is worse, n if its cold outside I feel more breathless n tight chested. Im loving swimming in the icy waters of Scotland, the colder n icyer the better, coldest Ive swam in so far this year, was -3 degrees x
Last winter I swam irregularly in the sea and wheezed and coughed afterwards. Since august I have swam nearly every week . Now I don’t have that big gasp when I enter the water ( just a little one ) and I don’t cough and wheeze like I used to . Occasionally I take an inhaler when I get out but not every time. I feel that my asthma has improved or has been helped by the cold water swimming , or possibly it has helped me to manage my asthma better. It would be great to see more research done on this .
I find swimming in itself helps with my asthma as I swim outside and in the swimming pool. I had to stop open water swimming this winter as I was getting a sharp pain in my chest which was a bit worrying. Hopefully I’ll get back to it when it’s a bit warmer again.
I find the cold makes my asthma worse when the water gets below 8 degrees and I sometimes struggle to get my breath, I have to use my inhaler before getting in to stop being breathless, would happily be a guinea pig 😊
This is fascinating. I have never been formerly diagnosed with asthma however I have struggled most my life with respiratory symptoms that are basically asthma. After having my daughter ny midwife prescribed me a salbutamol inhaler,in the winter breathing becomes harder,wearing masks all day every day (ambulance service) some masks make me wheezier,now I've been doing cold water swimming since the summer I have just noticed that I've barely used my inhaler this winter so far...whereas previous years I'd have been using it a lot. This is very interesting and I hope it continues!
Rosie thanks for sharing your experience, that is really intersting, I'll pass it on. I think it could be a really interesting area to watch some research on. Enjoy the water!
I've had Long Covid, including breathing issues for almost 3 years now following a serious covid infection and pneumonia in march 2020. I've been cold swimming for a year and my breathing is TONS better... I wonder if this is linked too?
How interesting Rachel, I don't suffer with asthma but have notice my physical health around colds, chest infections etc much improved since I started sea swimming. definitely a case for further research, I would think. I hope you are keeping well yourself xo
This is interesting.. We had an incident in our local group of someone getting into trouble in the water, panicking and having an asthma attack. Unfortunately, they didn't bring their inhaler, so RNLI got called. Stay safe everyone
I was diagnosed 3.5 years ago with asthma and regularly had to use Fostair as a preventer and salbutamol asa reliever . I very rarely use either , but stlll occasionally do. I’m more active in general, swim outdoors all year , usually once or twice a week. I have also started learning to freedive. The breathing exercises and techniques have further improved my breathing. I think it’s the control of the breath as well as the reduction of inflammation from the cold. The CO2 tolerance from the freedive breathing has improved things even more.
Really interesting...I've been open water swimming in the Solent for a few years now and sadly I don't think it's had any particular impact on my asthma, although I have had fewer chest colds and throat infections (which always impact my asthma), but I also became a vegan at the same time as starting cold water swimming, so have mainly put that down to eliminating dairy. I don't get as wheezy anymore from the cold impact of getting in, which is what I feared when I first got started, but I don't think it's helped my asthma as it's mainly linked to allergic reactions such as animal fur, feathers etc
What a fascinating theory! Even though I don't have asthma, I really hope research will be done on this subject. The only breathing problems I had in connection with swimming occurred on two occasions at two different indoor pools and are probably chlorine related.When I swim in lakes warmer than 20°C I get a very runny nose about an hour or more afterwards. I think it might be an allergy against something in the water. But it must something rather uncommon as far as allergies go, because a test revealed that I don't react to any of the usual pollen that might be found in lakes, too. Rivers and the sea are fine though.
I have been swimming in open water on and off for a decade, coming back to swimming regularly in the summer before covid struck us all. Then in early December 2019 I suffered what was described by the doctor as viral bronchitis, which in hindsight I now believe to have been covid19. It was feb 2020 before I felt recovered. Then in June 2022 I began with what initially seemed to be a chest infection but was later diagnosed as asthma, and interestingly it was swimming that made me aware of how restricted my breathing was (I guess linked to the physical exertion, and the dive reflex?). now with treatment it is improving and I am able to swim again at the level I was before the start of this. It will be intersting to see how the asthma develops as I keep swimming!
That is so interesting... I can't swim in pools as I struggle to breathe (I have chronic asthma) But did find swimmbling seemed to help not only with chronic pain, but I definitely coughed less. I didn't swim at all last year as I had two bouts of aspirational pneumonia (since covid in August 2021, I regularly vomit in my sleep) and I have been left with uncontrolled asthma and a chronic cough. I will get myself back in the loch and let you know if it helps... or indeed, if it makes things worse.
Hi I am asthmatic and was first diagnosed when I was 15 and was triggered by hayfever. This will be my 3rd winter swimming in the open water and to be honest the only breathing challenges I have are in the summer when the pollen gets into my local lake. My coldest swim last year was 2.5c and I had no breathing issues whatsoever if anything the colder the better. Hope this helps and would be more than happy to participate or help further so please reach out to me. Jonathan Self
This is very interesting and something I hadn't been aware of. I have had a mild asthma complaint that's been known about since the 1980s. Yes, when I have been a bit stressed it has flaired up. However, I have not been aware of anything in the last couple of years since I started open water swimming. Coinciding with that I retired at much the same time so naturally there is less stress from work now. I certainly cannot remember when I last used my inhaler. Be fascinating to hear more from others on this matter. Thanks for raising it Rachel.
That is super news! So glad to hear you’ve been feeling better. This is throwing up some very interesting comments which might spark scientific interest! Here’s hoping!
@EverydayAthleteRach very. It would be interesting research to test a pre and post free water swimming, marine and fresh and capture their 16S library to see what changed. These bacteria or fungi may be passed back and forth with couples though. Pass this to that research doc friend of yours
This is my first winter open water swimming & I was a little worried about the effect of the cold on my asthma. But so far I've noticed that the colds I've had haven't gone to my chest as severely as usual. They still go to my chest, but it's been a relief not to be affected so severely. I'm hoping to see this effect continue! I'd be fascinated to see formal research on this!
Thanks for sharing! That’s interesting to hear. Enjoy the water 💦
Crikey, I've been a slave to inhalers for 55yrs (Symbicort and Bricanyl) My mate persuaded me to try wild swimming in a local reservoir. I did it 'for a laugh' and my mate said it made her feel alive! 12 weeks later, going once or twice a week, I haven't used any inhalers at all. Unbelievable, especially in winter!
Wowee! Whata result! Enjoy the water, I bet it has been a laugh too, what a load of side benefits! x
I’d been on inhalers for 30 years. I started open water swimming in November 21 by January 22 I had come off all my inhalers. I’ve had a whole winter now without medication and no chest infection. It’s been amazing
Wowzers! That's exciting news, and a bit cheaper too, no doubt! 💦😀
A will definitely give it try now. I just have to get organised. I need more energie, and like to get rid of asthma and achy joints as well.
This is so very interesting , I have only been outside swimming since September so my first winter dipping / swimming - I’ve had asthma as a child which almost disappeared on teenage years but got worse back in to my 30& now 40’s with several hospitalisations. Still too early for me to tell , however I do feel that it makes me breathe better which can only be a good thing & I have only had one cold so far , so that in itself is pretty good!
Keep on keeping on Hannahm great that you've avoided colds so far this season. Thanks for sharing 💦😀
I have asthma but have always thought hyperventilating at the beginning of getting in would make me worse, but I never struggle with my breathing, my breathing and my heart rate seem to calm rather than get worse which I imagined would happen, and I'm then very calm swimming, I also feel I'm calming my whole self whether it's an inert feeling that mentally I have to calm myself or ill drown, but I'd do come out calm and feel my breathing is better. So interesting.
Yes,yes yes ! Been cold water swimming for almost a year now, and it has made a big difference to my asthma. Still wheeze sometimes going up hills, but generally it feels a lot better. Admittedly it's hard to distinguish between improved mental health & better physical wellbeing, but I feel this is a topic worthy of further research.
Hi Diana this sounds like an all round improvement, good on you. It is certainly an interesting question to ask, let's see where it goes... 💦😀
I’ve been open water swimming and dipping since March. I have asthma and hay fever, both conditions have markedly improved since I started. I always feel I can breathe deeper and easier after I’ve been in.
This is fascinating - I’m intrigued to read the comments here! I don’t have asthma but I truly believe the reason I am the only one in my family not to have caught flu this Christmas is because I cold water swim most days. It was interesting to hear about the cold water gasp reflex reducing as you acclimatise! I can definitely relate to this! After a year of swimming I no longer gasp as I enter the water even when the temperature is 4 deg. This was a great video Rachel ❤
Thanks for watching Katy, glad it was interesting even if you don't have asthma! Enjoy the water 💦😀
Great video Rachel let’s hope a proper research study can be initiated into this awful disease. ❤👍
Very informative.
Wow! Fascinating, and reading all the comments it seems clear that open water swimming is incredibly good for you in so many ways! I don’t have asthma so cannot comment on that topic but I do know I don’t catch colds or coughs and when I did get the dreaded COVID I only had very mild symptoms! Great video!
Wow, how interesting! I don't have asthma but I'm interested in the theory. The only experience I have had of cold water swimming helping me breath was when I got covid on a holiday in our caravan. Being I the cold sea was the only time I could breath normally. It was like magic! I'm interested in hearing more specifics about how the vagal nerve within the Autonomic nervous system interacts with the asthma symptoms. Good luck with getting some funding to look into this!
Hi Rachel, thank you for this video, it’s so interesting! I’ve had mostly mild asthma since a child (in my 50’s now) and after a year of outdoor swimming and dipping I realised that I haven’t used my Salbutamol inhaler in months. I’m totally amazed because the cold weather was always a big trigger for me and I was concerned about the effect the cold water would have on my breathing. But I’ve had no tightness or wheezing at all. I also used to get asthma on exercise, walking or running but not anymore, it’s completely gone. I also suffered from IBS for many years and this too has completely disappeared and I’m off all medication for that too. It’s a fascinating subject and a lot more research is needed into the health benefits of cold water swimming :)
Blimey you have had a turn around! This might be the start of something really interesting! Thanks for sharing and watch this space 💦😀
I only have mild asthma often triggered by hayfever but pollen on the water hasn't been an issue
When I get an episode I can sometimes settle it by doing deep breathing/ huff exercises
I think this may be what helps from the swimming both pool and more so cold water swimming as we often concentrate on breathing technique especially to manage the shock on entering
Interesting theory. i have moderate to severe asthma. I have never had an asthma attack in sea water but I avoid the swimming pool as that is a definite trigger.
Very interesting!
Swimming Pools can make Asthma worse due to the cholorine as it’s the fumes from chorline that causes most asthma attacks in pools
Divers reflex definitely reduces to pretty much nil for me with regular swims. Outdoor swimming for 13 years Asthma definitely improved in that time. Difficult to isolate exact reason or whether its causal
Good to hear your asthma has improved over time. Thanks for sharing 💦😀
I have been openwater swimming for a number of years and diagnosed as brittle asthmatic. This is the first winter I have swum in skins. I have up to now I not had an admission to hospital.
Wow Julia this is great news. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the water and stay healthy x
I have been wild swimming since just after lockdown ended... for years I believed I had asthma... this was later re diagnosed as bronchiectasis, I suffer with severe chest infections worsening the condition but during winter when I dip in colder waters, I always note that my coughing eased, I coughed more out of the water than in 😱. Now unlike asthma, bronchiectasis is a widening of the bronchi...yet the cold water still seems to relieve the irritation...I believe the cold water has also raised my tolerance of cold on a whole ❄️ I utterly love wild swimming!!! 😁🌊
Such an interesting observation Kandii, thanks for sharing. Enjoy the water!
Great video Rachel im going to make sure that my brother in law watches it as he is asthmatic & I'm preaching to all my family about the benefits of open water swimming!! No takers yet though 😞
Love that! Sometime you have to look outside the family for swim buddies, family may eventually be converted tho! Thanks for sharing with those who could do with seeing it! 💦😀
This is so interesting. My asthma has certainly been better the past few years since I've been cold swimming (though couldn't say that was the definite link!) It would be great to see some research on this. If more anecdotal evidence is helpful I'd be happy to help!
Wonderful! Thanks for offering to help out. Watch this space!
I’m a long time asthma sufferer, 30ish years. This is a great video and very much appreciated. The indoor pool makes my asthma worse, I need to use my inhaler each swim. My open water journey started 16 months ago. I hadn’t thought about it but I started using my inhaler outdoor swimming when I found the cold triggered an episode. I still carry it but don’t use it anymore. Maybe there is a link. I swim off and on with a group of up to 30 swimmers. If this study takes off I could coordinate data input from my group. I think there would be a lot of interest! Have a great day, off for a dip.
Super helpful, thanks for sharing Mark, and for the offer of helping if anything moves forwards research-wise 💦😀
It definitely makes mine worse unfortunately. Triggers a cough both during and after but it's something that's manageable with inhalers so I can deal with it in order to get the rest of the huge benefits. This is both a trigger in winter and summer, summer likely to be more affected by hayfever and pollen levels than the cold though I think.
Thanks for sharing Suzie, glad the inhalers keep it under control 💦😀
thanks a lot for you both...
transmitting information is an art, and what you offer us is excellent..
Thank you very much
Glad you enjoyed it! There will be an update to this video.
I didnt have an asthma attack since I started winter swimming, it has been 9 or 10 years now.
Not using the inhaler since, too.
Lucky me, I’ve got great lungs🫁… my joints are shoddy, but my lungs work great. I definitely think cold water swimming really helps to move air effectively in and out of my lungs, which I know is something we don’t do throughout the day in our regular dry-land activities. Perhaps this increase in effective movement of air, over time, helps to reduce asthma and breathing difficulties. Just a thought. Thanks for the great video today Rachel, this was a very interesting conversation to listen to. 💦🌎Ⓜary🏊♀
Hi Mary, that's an interesting theory. It'll be good to see if anything can come from this :)
I've only been cold water swimming since the 2nd January but I've been fine whole I've been in the very cold water and afterwards. I'm also not as wheezy as I had been before Christmas so hopefully it's a good sign.
It will be interesting for you to monitor how things progress 💦😀
This is fascinating! My asthma appears to have improved with cold water swimming in particular. I'm using my inhalers a lot less!
Great news!
When I was sea swimming I felt generally much healthier and able to cope with colds etc. I have severe asthma, and thanks to getting Covid (and long Covid) and some really serious asthma attacks, including one I'm recovering from now, I've done none of my usual exercise - weightlifting and swimming - for almost a year. I plan to re-start at the end of January and will try and keep some notes on my progress and how often I get ill/how quickly I recover.
Good luck with your recovery, I hope getting back in the water helps a little 💦😀
Excellent video and inspiring comments from the community, thank you. My journey to become a wild water swimming shall start with renewed confidence. I look forward to hearing more on this.
16.06.2023 With heartfelt gratitude to you this morning I enjoyed my first wild water swim❤💦🐬
This might be the outliers comment to go into your data im afraid lol
Im 42, going thru perimenopause, have systemic lupus, went through triple negative breast cancer, have kidney issues from lupus and have complex ptsd (compounding traumas since childhood).
I have been open water swimming only a couple of years... Its very tricky here in Melbourne Australia as the bay fills with toxic pollution every time it rains... Making it unswimmable... So i rely on a combination of pool and bay swims. And i definately breathe much worse in the pool and have an autoimmune response to the chlorine if i stay more than an hour more than 2ce a week.
In open water i love the fresh sea air, but have the same breathing difficulties and need to stop and rest every 1-200m...
I also do freediving (only currently certified as a lv1 freediver)... And it was during an unfortunate event of overexertion that o discovered i actually have asthma...
Suddenly everything in my life related to asthma made sense... the coughing, excess mucus when im stress, cant excercise for long periods of time, cant breathe and wheezing when distressed, takes a quarter of a year to get over the secondary chest infection of the flu/a cold, despite antibiotics treatment etc. etc.
I now use a Ventolin puffer and Symbicort, and noticed a drastic difference in my swimming. I can still breathe despite having to stop every couple of hundred metres... Without the puffer i will start wheezing and feel like my throat is closing up without the puffers. The cold water helps my lupus arthritis but the cold air in winter makes me cough and chest tightens up...
I am very VERY curious to know about freediving and asthma!! Because now that i use the puffer, im able to get more oxygen supply and feel it helps (mind you i take very little. About one puff of each per day through a spacer). But does what you've been talking about, theoretically, mean that asthmatics are potentially genetically over prepared for freediving?? Total layman's question! Lol does this mean we are at less risk of narcosis/blackouts? Or is it the opposite? Due to less oxygen supply when overexerted, asthmatics dive less well? *Pls note, im talking about freediving not scuba.
In either case, having lived most my life without puffers, i think i am still better off with them than without
.. my performance is about 5x better in swimming and in freediving... But maybe top early to say...
I will say this though, even with medium symptoms during a dive or swim, my near 30yrs of yogic practice (including pranayama and deep meditation) can make the difference between survival or potentially having to be rescued...
Thanks for the fascinating video i love how relatable all ur videos are!!!
Hi Liz, thanks for your detailed comment. It will be intersting to see Prof Connett's thoughts on these responses. Watch this space.
Also thanks for your lovely comment about my videos x
Rach - you are bonkers but absolutely fair play to you !x
I am living my best life too. Love a little watery shock here and there!
You should reach out to people with asthma in the Freediving community - we deliberately train the mammalian dive reflex to extend our time underwater and often do it in cold water (speaking as a UK resident!). I noticed my asthma significantly deteriorated when a combination of lockdown and injury paused my weekly freediving activities. Would be very interested to find out more.
Thanks Louise, sounds like another avenue to look at. The comments are fascinating.
Hi Rachel. Thank you so much for your videos and this item which was very interesting. I'm into my second cold water swimming winter. I've suffered quite severely with asthma in the past needing hospital treatment and steroids especially through the winter. I can honestly say I haven't even had a cold and more importantly a chest infection or asthma flair up since enjoying my cold water dips. May this continue. Thanks again.
Wow Debra! This is great news. So pleased you’re feeling healthy. Thanks for watching an commenting 😀
Really interesting! This is my second winter of open water swimming and unfortunately my asthma has been quite a lot worse since the end of last winter. That coincides with me having covid though so I suspect it's not the swimming that is to blame. I tend to feel better during and for a few hours after a cold swim.
One benefit I have had though - it's always been a running joke how cold my feet are in winter. But since swimming right through last winter it's barely bothered me. I'm also finding my feet warm up quicker post swim this winter.
Those are some really interesting observations, sounds like you are really benefitting from getting in the water 💦😀
Really interesting. I have complex asthma and open water makes me cough less than pool swimming and in summer i feel more resilient. But feel cold air and water in winter makes me ill. I wonder if i need ro stick with it now 🤔 Thanks Rachel
Interesting thought Dianne, maybe swimming a little further into the cooler months this year might be a cool thing to do? 💦😀
Been cold/ open water swimming for 3yrs plus, also use it for pain due to fibromyalgia an rheumatoid arthritis, n some days im in agony x
Ive noticed, that if I take my blue inhaler, just b4 I go into the water, if its cold n the waters icy n u need to break it to get in, I feel better after I come out, n do for the rest of the day. Im always getting plurisey n pneumonia, but, I feel the water helps with my asthma, n definitely helps with the pain threshold. The days I cant get a swim, wont swim on my own, the pain is worse, n if its cold outside I feel more breathless n tight chested. Im loving swimming in the icy waters of Scotland, the colder n icyer the better, coldest Ive swam in so far this year, was -3 degrees x
Wow Elizabeth, -3ºC is pretty chilly, it's great to hear that you are feeling the benefits. Enjoy the water!
Last winter I swam irregularly in the sea and wheezed and coughed afterwards. Since august I have swam nearly every week . Now I don’t have that big gasp when I enter the water ( just a little one ) and I don’t cough and wheeze like I used to . Occasionally I take an inhaler when I get out but not every time. I feel that my asthma has improved or has been helped by the cold water swimming , or possibly it has helped me to manage my asthma better. It would be great to see more research done on this .
Thanks for sharing your experience, it's starting to look like people are having interesting experiences.
I find swimming in itself helps with my asthma as I swim outside and in the swimming pool.
I had to stop open water swimming this winter as I was getting a sharp pain in my chest which was a bit worrying. Hopefully I’ll get back to it when it’s a bit warmer again.
Hi Elizabeth, I hope you are feeling better now. See you back in the water once it warms up.
Really interesting subject matter, my asthma is so much better since wild swimming as well as chronic pain and a definite benefit to my mental health.
That’s brilliant to hear. Hopefully Prof Connett will get funding to look into this further.
I find the cold makes my asthma worse when the water gets below 8 degrees and I sometimes struggle to get my breath, I have to use my inhaler before getting in to stop being breathless, would happily be a guinea pig 😊
Thanks for the offer Col, we'll see what the next steps might be. Keep your eye on here )
This is fascinating. I have never been formerly diagnosed with asthma however I have struggled most my life with respiratory symptoms that are basically asthma. After having my daughter ny midwife prescribed me a salbutamol inhaler,in the winter breathing becomes harder,wearing masks all day every day (ambulance service) some masks make me wheezier,now I've been doing cold water swimming since the summer I have just noticed that I've barely used my inhaler this winter so far...whereas previous years I'd have been using it a lot. This is very interesting and I hope it continues!
Rosie thanks for sharing your experience, that is really intersting, I'll pass it on. I think it could be a really interesting area to watch some research on. Enjoy the water!
I've had Long Covid, including breathing issues for almost 3 years now following a serious covid infection and pneumonia in march 2020. I've been cold swimming for a year and my breathing is TONS better... I wonder if this is linked too?
Woohoo! Long may the improved breathing continue Angi x 💦😀
I have asthma and want to start open water swimming. Unfortunately can't access comments to see what others have said.
Erm, I'm not sure why, the comments aren't closed. I hope you've looked again and found them.
Thank you- all good now 👌
How interesting Rachel, I don't suffer with asthma but have notice my physical health around colds, chest infections etc much improved since I started sea swimming. definitely a case for further research, I would think. I hope you are keeping well yourself xo
This is interesting.. We had an incident in our local group of someone getting into trouble in the water, panicking and having an asthma attack. Unfortunately, they didn't bring their inhaler, so RNLI got called. Stay safe everyone
I was diagnosed 3.5 years ago with asthma and regularly had to use Fostair as a preventer and salbutamol asa reliever . I very rarely use either , but stlll occasionally do. I’m more active in general, swim outdoors all year , usually once or twice a week. I have also started learning to freedive. The breathing exercises and techniques have further improved my breathing. I think it’s the control of the breath as well as the reduction of inflammation from the cold. The CO2 tolerance from the freedive breathing has improved things even more.
Thanks for sharing Michelle, I like the free-diving angle, so interesting!
Really interesting...I've been open water swimming in the Solent for a few years now and sadly I don't think it's had any particular impact on my asthma, although I have had fewer chest colds and throat infections (which always impact my asthma), but I also became a vegan at the same time as starting cold water swimming, so have mainly put that down to eliminating dairy. I don't get as wheezy anymore from the cold impact of getting in, which is what I feared when I first got started, but I don't think it's helped my asthma as it's mainly linked to allergic reactions such as animal fur, feathers etc
Thanks for sharing your experience Clare. Enjoy the water, especially the beaty of the Solent - I'll wave at you next time! 💦😀
What a fascinating theory! Even though I don't have asthma, I really hope research will be done on this subject. The only breathing problems I had in connection with swimming occurred on two occasions at two different indoor pools and are probably chlorine related.When I swim in lakes warmer than 20°C I get a very runny nose about an hour or more afterwards. I think it might be an allergy against something in the water. But it must something rather uncommon as far as allergies go, because a test revealed that I don't react to any of the usual pollen that might be found in lakes, too. Rivers and the sea are fine though.
That's interesting that it has never come up on a pollen test, as at that temp, that's just what I was thinking.
I have to take my inhaler before entering the water or as soon as I get in I feel my chest tighten and lung capacity reduced.
Thanks for sharing your experience
I have been swimming in open water on and off for a decade, coming back to swimming regularly in the summer before covid struck us all. Then in early December 2019 I suffered what was described by the doctor as viral bronchitis, which in hindsight I now believe to have been covid19. It was feb 2020 before I felt recovered. Then in June 2022 I began with what initially seemed to be a chest infection but was later diagnosed as asthma, and interestingly it was swimming that made me aware of how restricted my breathing was (I guess linked to the physical exertion, and the dive reflex?). now with treatment it is improving and I am able to swim again at the level I was before the start of this. It will be intersting to see how the asthma develops as I keep swimming!
Really interesting, keep in touch about how things progress 💦😀
Very interesting. Thanks Rachel
Glad you liked it!
That is so interesting... I can't swim in pools as I struggle to breathe (I have chronic asthma) But did find swimmbling seemed to help not only with chronic pain, but I definitely coughed less.
I didn't swim at all last year as I had two bouts of aspirational pneumonia (since covid in August 2021, I regularly vomit in my sleep) and I have been left with uncontrolled asthma and a chronic cough.
I will get myself back in the loch and let you know if it helps... or indeed, if it makes things worse.
What a time you have had. Wouldnt it be great if open water swimming was a cure. Sending best wishes, Dianne
Only get back in when you feel well enough and fancy it Ruby. Hang on in there, and maybe for now, enjoy the water from the side xx
Hi I am asthmatic and was first diagnosed when I was 15 and was triggered by hayfever. This will be my 3rd winter swimming in the open water and to be honest the only breathing challenges I have are in the summer when the pollen gets into my local lake. My coldest swim last year was 2.5c and I had no breathing issues whatsoever if anything the colder the better. Hope this helps and would be more than happy to participate or help further so please reach out to me. Jonathan Self
Thanks for sharing your experience Jonathan. There comments will all be shared with Prof Connett. Let’s see where is goes!
@@EverydayAthleteRach great if I can be of any further help please let me know. Take care
This is very interesting and something I hadn't been aware of. I have had a mild asthma complaint that's been known about since the 1980s. Yes, when I have been a bit stressed it has flaired up. However, I have not been aware of anything in the last couple of years since I started open water swimming. Coinciding with that I retired at much the same time so naturally there is less stress from work now. I certainly cannot remember when I last used my inhaler. Be fascinating to hear more from others on this matter. Thanks for raising it Rachel.
That is super news! So glad to hear you’ve been feeling better. This is throwing up some very interesting comments which might spark scientific interest! Here’s hoping!
Water untreated is a great reservoir of bacterial pathogenic viruses. The lung biome has been shown to cause some asthma casss. Phage therapy anyone?
Interesting.
@EverydayAthleteRach very. It would be interesting research to test a pre and post free water swimming, marine and fresh and capture their 16S library to see what changed. These bacteria or fungi may be passed back and forth with couples though. Pass this to that research doc friend of yours