November 3, 2021
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter in response to last week’s article about the Margaree Environmental Association’s request for a year-round carbon-neutral indoor recreational aquatic space for Inverness County. As a physician working at the Inverness hospital, I support this proposal wholeheartedly.
If I’ve learned one thing in my years training to be a doctor, it is that a “magic bullet” cure does not exist for most ailments. On the other hand, it has become increasingly clear that physical exercise is one of the safest and most effective therapies for almost every disease. Want to get off pills for your diabetes or high blood pressure? Regular cardiovascular exercise might just make that possible. Chronic pain or fibromyalgia? Swimming or water aerobics can reduce pain and improve functioning. Mental health conditions? Physical activity releases endorphins that help boost energy and improve wellness. Dementia? Exercise may enhance cognition.
I could go on.
My biggest challenge has been how to deliver this life-changing treatment to patients. I cannot expect elderly patients to go walking on the Inverness boardwalk or swimming at the beach in the middle of winter. I also cannot expect each of them to invest in expensive home exercise equipment they do not have space for. If we had a public recreation facility, however, exercise prescription would be in reach. In particular, an indoor swimming pool offers some of the most accessible forms of exercise. To participate in water aerobics or “Aquafit” class, you do not even need to know how to swim. Having a local pool would also open opportunities for specialized health care like aquatic therapy.
I know this facility is a big investment, but it is an investment in the health and well-being of our communities. Thank you, Margaree Environmental Association, for prioritizing sustainable disease prevention, public safety, and health promotion.
Dr. Jasmine Waslowski
Family Medicine Resident
Dalhousie University
Inverness
