Post by @kristicreatesofficial

Water pressure on your body pushes blood that's pooled in your legs back up toward your heart. That means more blood getting where it needs to go, without your heart having to work as hard to move it (Gauer, 1975). Water also touches your entire body at once. That constant full body input calms down your nervous system's stress response (Sato et al., PMID 28742137). The 2015 Heart Rhythm Society guidelines for POTS specifically recommend starting exercise in water, along with recumbent bikes and rowing machines, before moving to upright exercise (Sheldon et al., 2015). So when I'm in the pool, my body is getting better blood flow, a calmer nervous system, and zero orthostatic stress all at once. This is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise protocol. Sources: Gauer OH. Recent advances in the physiology of whole body immersion. *Acta Astronautica*. 1975;2(1-2):31-39. Sato D, Yamazaki Y, Takahashi A, et al. Water immersion decreases sympathetic skin response during color-word Stroop test. *PLoS One*. 2017;12(7):e0180765. PMID: 28742137. Sheldon RS, Grubb BP 2nd, Olshansky B, et al. 2015 heart rhythm society expert consensus statement on the diagnosis and treatment of postural tachycardia syndrome, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, and vasovagal syncope. *Heart Rhythm*. 2015;12(6):e41-e63.