Benefits and drawbacks of breath-holding swimming
Nov 25, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
The benefits of breath-holding swimming include inducing oxygen deficiency, which accelerates blood circulation, increases cardiac load, and enhances myocardial capacity. It can improve lung capacity, increase pulmonary pressure gradients, boost oxygen activity, and thus benefit the body's immunity and resistance. It also promotes metabolism and enhances muscle contraction ability. The drawbacks are that it may cause muscle fatigue and increase susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Benefits of breath-holding swimming include enhanced cardiac muscle function and improved immunity, while drawbacks include an increased risk of infection.
1. Benefits
Swimming is a full-body exercise that is relatively strenuous. Holding one's breath during swimming causes oxygen deficiency, which accelerates blood circulation and increases the heart's workload, thereby strengthening myocardial capacity. Additionally, appropriate breath-holding while swimming can increase lung capacity, enhance pulmonary pressure differences, improve oxygen utilization, and positively affect the body's immune system and resistance. Breath-holding swimming can also promote metabolism, stimulate brain neural activity, and improve muscle contraction ability.
2. Drawbacks
If breath-holding swimming is performed for prolonged periods without sufficient oxygen supply, it accelerates the depletion of oxygen in the body, leading to muscle fatigue. Extended breath-holding may also cause conditions such as otitis media (middle ear infection). Moreover, prolonged exposure of the skin to water increases susceptibility to bacterial infections, potentially causing skin discomfort.
It is recommended to practice breath-holding swimming under the guidance of a professional, control the duration of exercise appropriately, and promptly replenish carbohydrates after physical activity.
