The weather’s warming up. The sun’s staying out. That’s right, it’s almost pool and beach season. But for those of you prone to sinus infections, you might want to consider a few health tips regarding sinusitis and swimming.
How does that relate to your refreshing swim? When you dive or swim underwater, the pressure changes affect your sinus canal, and your sinus passages can become blocked. Pressure changes can force water into your nasal passages, and if you breathe water in, then that just takes it further. Mucus thickens. Congestion builds. Then there’s the chemical element. Pool chlorine can irritate the lining of your sinuses, and bacteria not killed by the chlorine can sneak in and encourage infection. If you already have a cold or sinus infection when you hit the water, then the pool chemicals can further aggravate your symptoms and cause more discomfort.
Consider these tips for Sinusitus and Swimming:
- Know the quality of the water where you swim. Pool water should have appropriate pH and chlorine levels to combat bacteria and mold. Avoid brackish water.
- Don’t dive or swim underwater when you have a cold. The pressure of swimming underwater or diving can push mucus or bacteria into your sinuses. If you have a stoma, you can buy an ostomy belt for swimming at www.stealthbelt.com
- Breathe out through your nose when swimming. Pushing the water out with your breath expels it.
- Try faster turns while swimming laps. Quick movements can help keep water out of your nasal passages.
- After a swim or dive, try a saline-solution rinse. You can help wash away chlorine and bacteria by rinsing your nasal passages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Swimming can cause sinus infections because pressure changes when diving or swimming underwater can block sinus passages and force water into the nasal cavities. Additionally, pool chlorine can irritate the sinus lining, and bacteria not killed by the chlorine can lead to infections.
If you have a cold, diving or swimming underwater can push mucus or bacteria deeper into your sinuses due to pressure changes, potentially worsening your symptoms and increasing the risk of infection. Pool chemicals can also further irritate inflamed sinuses during this time.
To prevent sinus infections when swimming, ensure the pool water has proper pH and chlorine levels, avoid diving underwater if you have a cold, breathe out through your nose while swimming to expel water, try faster turns to keep water out of nasal passages, and rinse your nasal passages with a saline solution after swimming.
Chlorine in pool water can irritate the lining of the sinuses, causing discomfort and making them more susceptible to infections. Though chlorine helps kill many bacteria, some bacteria may survive and enter the nasal passages during swimming.
Rinsing nasal passages with a saline solution after swimming helps wash away chlorine, bacteria, and other irritants from the sinuses. This reduces congestion and lowers the risk of developing a sinus infection following exposure to pool or ocean water.
Yes, individuals with sinus problems can still enjoy swimming by following precautions such as avoiding underwater swimming when sick, ensuring water quality, breathing out through the nose, and rinsing nasal passages afterward to minimize irritation and infection risk.
Before swimming, check that pool water has appropriate pH and chlorine levels to effectively combat bacteria and mold. Avoid swimming in brackish water, as it can contain higher levels of bacteria and irritants that may worsen sinus problems.