Swimming in saltwater: The greatest lung exercise with a twist

Ask any health and fitness expert in the world what they think are the greatest exercises known to man when it comes to supercharging the lungs, nine out of 10 will mention swimming in the top three.

For today, Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., looks at how one of the best activities known to man can get even better, with a simple little tweak – add salt. Yes, saltwater swimming has added benefits to an already amazing exercise.

When people talk about swimming in the open ocean, they often consider the waves and currents as the main difference in swimming in a pool. However, saltwater is very different from freshwater as well, even if a person is swimming in a pool filled with saltwater.

People who have had the chance to swim in a saltwater pool have noted it to be a much more pleasant experience because of its mild salinity. From the smoother water to the constant cleansing, Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., enumerates some of the advantages of saltwater pools and saltwater swimming below.

• Saltwater is “softer” compared to freshwater, which means it dries quickly and is good for the skin.

• Saltwater has electrolysis. When chlorine is added to saltwater pools, the electrolysis adds to the potency of chlorine, making the water safer and cleaner for people to use it.

• Saltwater pools are easier to swim in because of the increased level of buoyancy brought about by salinity.

• Saltwater makes people glide through it, lowering the effort needed to swim.

Lisa M. Cannon, M.D., is a board-certified pulmonary disease and critical care physician with a private practice in Bergen County, New Jersey. For more reads on health and medicine, visit this page.