All the pros and cons of swimming

If you are interested in swimming and if you are considering starting, it is a good idea to consider both the advantages and disadvantages.Would you like to start swimming? Swimming with Lifeguard training is one of the best forms of exercise for the whole body. If you still have questions about this sport, we will answer them in this article by explaining the pros and cons.

The benefits of swimming

Let's start with the good news about this sport. Here are six benefits of swimming – a sport practiced by people of all ages all year round. 

1. It makes you slimmer

When you swim, your body faces the force of the water, but you hardly notice the extra effort it requires. The increased resistance stimulates your metabolism , which means you burn more calories. Thereby you also increase the possibility of losing weight.

2. It's good for your joints

Swimming does not involve impact on the ground, meaning your knees are not subjected to increased force. For example, when you run or jump on the ground, your knees are exposed to a lot of pressure due to gravity and your body weight.

But when you float, your muscles don't have to support your weight . For this reason, swimming is recommended for those with arthritis or muscle pain, and for those who are overweight.

3. Swimming helps prevent diseases

When you swim, you can prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, which affects the bones of women over 45. Furthermore, swimming strengthens the immune system and reduces colds and flu in winter.

4. It reduces stress

This sport favors the production of dopamine, which is responsible for regulating mood. In addition , the sport can also help reduce anxiety, create mental relaxation and reduce stress. It also improves your sleep and eliminates insomnia.

5. It strengthens your heart

One of the primary benefits of swimming, which applies to all aerobic sports, is that it strengthens your heart function while improving your circulatory system. This means that it helps regulate blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart attacks and even “cleanses” the arteries.

6. Swimming makes you more social

Unless you have a large swimming pool at home, you will be surrounded by other people when you swim. Maybe they are the same age as you, and maybe you can make new friends or training buddies.

This is a great advantage for people who live alone or who do not have many friends. You get the opportunity to make connections with others who share similar hobbies.

The disadvantages of swimming

Swimming is a good form of exercise that has many beneficial benefits. However, we must point out the five disadvantages of swimming :

1. It increases the risk of certain injuries

One of the primary disadvantages of swimming is that it increases the risk of certain injuries . This is due to the repetitive movements that can sometimes be harmful to your joints and tendons.

Thereby , swimming increases the risk of tendinitis , which tends to occur when you train more than recommended. It can affect the joints and is usually quite painful.

2. Fungal infections

An infection caused by fungus is another disadvantage of swimming. But this also applies to other sports if you use a public changing room afterwards . Athlete's foot is one of the most common types of fungus, and it can occur when you don't dry between your toes.

3. Skin allergies

Pools are disinfected with a lot of chemical products like chlorine. This substance can not only cause skin allergies, but can also irritate the mucous membranes , especially the eyes. You can reduce the risk of eye irritation by wearing swimming goggles.

4. You need extra equipment

When you start swimming, you need some essentials such as a bathing suit and possibly a swimming cap. In addition, you also have to pay to go swimming.

5. You might give up in the winter

Swimming is a wonderful activity in the summer because it cools you down and gives you the opportunity to be in the water without being on vacation . But when winter arrives, there is a risk that you will give up the sport.

You can easily lose motivation when you have to change clothes, take a shower, get out of the pool with wet hair and when you have to go all the way home in the cold weather with Universal certificate.