Nina was diagnosed with COPD eight years ago. Initially attributing her breathlessness whilst running on the treadmill to ageing, the diagnosis came as a shock. Over the years, her condition has gradually worsened, and she now relies on a daily inhaler and physical activity to manage her symptoms.
In addition to COPD, Nina has grappled with knee pain for many years. Although she suspects arthritis, her diagnosis has yet to be confirmed. Adding to her challenges, Nina is experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, which she describes as “horrendous.” These include brain fog, a multitude of aches and pains, night sweats and disrupted sleep patterns, often limiting her to a mere five hours of rest per night.
Despite these challenges, Nina remains determined to navigate her health journey and find ways to improve her quality of life.
HOW NINA GETS MOVING
Even with her full-time job and family commitments, Nina finds time to prioritise physical activity. She attends a women’s-only community gym, engaging in personalised sessions and a variety of classes, including outdoor workouts that are tailored to her needs.
At the beginning of the year, Nina discovered an advertisement for wild swimming on the Age UK Blackburn with Darwen website. Intrigued and eager to give it a go, she arranged to meet the ‘Darwen Dippers’ to find out more. Nina consulted her GP to ensure that cold water swimming would be suitable for someone with COPD. Her doctor advised her to take things slowly and not to ‘jump straight in!’
During her second week with the group, Nina waded into the water up to her waist, recalling how the cold “absolutely took her breath away.” A few weeks later, wearing just a swimsuit, neoprene shoes and gloves, Nina has fully immersed herself in the water at a chilly 4 degrees.
Nina has found that wild swimming offers a multitude of benefits. The initial shock of the cold water has taught her to better control her breathing, which in turn helps to manage her COPD. Additionally, the water’s anti-inflammatory properties have reduced her knee pain, and the coolness of the water has helped alleviate her perimenopausal night sweats, leading to improved sleep quality. Beyond the physical benefits, wild swimming has also allowed Nina to make new friends too.
RESOURCES
Learn how you can be more active
If you have a long-term health condition and want to learn how you can be more active, contact the Wellbeing Service at 01254 682037, visit www.refreshbwd.com or email wellbeing@blackburn.gov.uk