Positives

• A 2.5-year long-hauler started swimming 3 days/week for 1–1.5 hours and found that chest pain, shortness of breath, and GERD resolved within the first 2 months, while jogging and HIIT had not helped Reddit.
  
  
• A CFS-type long-hauler went swimming and reported no PEM almost 24 hours later, describing it as a milestone at 1 year post-infection Reddit.
  
  

Negatives

• A long-hauler who pushed too hard during swimming experienced heart rate spiking to 150 bpm upon standing, extreme body heaviness, and nearly fainted — a POTS-like episode triggered by the transition from water to standing Reddit.
  
  

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Swimming is considered lower-impact than land-based exercise because water pressure helps blood return to the heart (reducing POTS symptoms), but the transition from horizontal in water to standing can trigger severe orthostatic episodes Reddit.