Asthma is a complex medical problem for which currently available treatment can be incompletely effective.

This case report describes a 49 year old woman who had suffered from asthma since her teenage years that resolved after she took up regular open water swimming. After sharing this case report with an international open water swimming community on social media, over one hundred people with asthma commented that their symptoms had also improved after taking up this activity. The mechanism whereby open water swimming might alleviate asthma has not been established. Possibilities include benefits to mental health, anti-inflammatory effects, being more fit, improved immune function and suppression of the bronchoconstrictive component of the diving reflex. Further research might usefully confirm or refute these clinical observations.

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Come on in, the water’s cold

Outdoor swimming helps reduce inflammation, the cause of many
health issues. It should be a public health measure, says Mark Harper

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Evaluation of Outdoor swimming courses offered by NHS Improvement in London and Cornwall

CHILL CIC commissioned the University of Portsmouth to provide feedback from participants relating to outdoor swimming coaching sessions that were conducted for NHS staff as part of the NHS Improvement and wellbeing. The courses took place in London at Parliament Hill Lido and in Cornwall.

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Sea swimming as a novel intervention for depression and anxiety

A feasibility study exploring engagement and acceptability

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I went wild swimming in a chilly river and haven’t had a panic attack since

Cold water immersion has been shown to transform the way the body responds to stress, as Tim Clare discovered after a decade of severe anxiety

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The benefits of cold water swimming

Is swimming in a freezing lake the antidote to modern life burnout?

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Chill UK and their mission to introduce prescription cold water swimming

Founded this year, Chill Therapy CIC is a non-profit providing cold water swimming sessions to help people manage anxiety and depression. So far, they have set up swim hubs around the country, taken NHS staff on cold water therapy courses and have been collecting quantitative data on cold water swimming. We spoke to founder Mike Morris to learn more about this amazing initiative, which is taking us one step closer to social prescription swimming.

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Open water swimming as a possible treatment for asthma

Open water swimming as a possible treatment for asthma

Asthma is a complex medical problem for which currently available treatment can be incompletely effective.

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More articles

Come on in, the water’s cold

Evaluation of Outdoor swimming courses offered by NHS Improvement in London and Cornwall

Sea swimming as a novel intervention for depression and anxiety

I went wild swimming in a chilly river and haven’t had a panic attack since

The benefits of cold water swimming

Chill UK and their mission to introduce prescription cold water swimming

JOIN US IN THE OPEN WATER FOR SWIM SESSIONS TO NATURALLY HELP MANAGE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION