Pool water allergy?

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:42:02 GMT

It's well known that ozone triggers an asthmatic attack in asthma sufferers. My pool uses ozone and a little chlorine. As it so happens, I'm slightly asthmatic and I never get enough air as I swim. In fact, I can't swim more than a length at a time. I have an asthma inhaler, but it doesn't seem to undo the effect of the ozone. Some of my problem may have to do with technique, such as no exhaling fully and not keeping my body high enough in the water (as a result of not kicking steadily). But I'm pretty sure the problem with not getting enough air has to do with the ozone. I think chlorine is more linked to asthma attacks than ozone. How far can you swim in a pool without ozone?

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Sun, 29 Mar 2015 12:14:58 GMT

RE: Pool water allergy?

orca1946 — Thu, 28 May 2009 03:55:32 GMT

Do they use chlorine or some other chems?

RE: Pool water allergy?

orca1946 — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:07:47 GMT

Did they change the pool chemistry?

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:40:35 GMT

The pool I swim uses mainly ozone, plus some chlorine (as I believe all ozone disinfected pools still uses some chlorine), but the chlorine should be very small amount (no strong smell). Maybe even that is too much for me. I haven't heard ozone could cause allergy (anyone knows?). Actually a strong smell indicates the lack of "free chlorine" in the water. A freshly shocked and chlorinated pool will have very little odor that most people commonly think is chlorine. This article describes the chemistry of how pools lose their chlorine strength and begin to smell and give people allergy symptoms. It could be the pool needs to be "shocked". www.poolspa.com/.../shocktrt.htm

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:52:43 GMT

I first developed a sinus problem at the Y with a history of CL control problems. However, after a period of years, I noticed swimming in the ocean or a very clean fresh water lake triggered the same sinus EXPLOSION...sorry to say it makes me gag. I had to quit swimming. :0( :0( :0( I do have mild allergies to tree pollen, dust mites, etc. But I think I developed vasomotor rhinitis...a sinus explosion caused by environmental stimulus including water/swimming, temperature changes tobacco smoke, etc.] I take claritin and singular...doesn't help this problem a bit. :0( Getting older and fatter...:badday:

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:57:04 GMT

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:04:12 GMT

My younger brother developed an allergy to chlorine and some allergies are accumulative, meaning that you may not experience them for 2 years, then it finally hits a breaking point and you wont be able to bear it at all. For him, he had to move to a pool (LA Fitness) that uses bromine instead of chlorine. I think bromine can only be used in indoor pools because it breaks down under sun exposure.

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:56:07 GMT

My guess is that it is pollen in or on the water. Is it an outdoor pool and do you normally have any seasonal allergies? No, that's why it's strange. It's an indoor pool, I've used it for nearly 2 years, and I don't usually have seasonal allergies of any sort :confused:

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:22:26 GMT

My guess is that it is pollen in or on the water. Is it an outdoor pool and do you normally have any seasonal allergies?

RE: Pool water allergy?

cheakamus — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:08:00 GMT

One other thing I should have mentioned—if you do use the nasal rinse, probably better to do it at home (or somewhere private). A little of the rinse water often remains in your sinuses and runs out unexpectedly a few minutes later. (Best to keep a Kleenex handy!) Still, it's a better solution, to my mind, than the next step up, which is Claritin.

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:14:43 GMT

Cheakamus, thanks for sharing your experience. I'll try your method (although it's not great to have to rinse ones' nose after each swim--one more thing to do in life). Btw, these days it is especially unwelcome to sneeze in public, even if you cover the mouth: everyone becomes alerted.

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:24:00 GMT

OK, can you contact a priest who is familiar with exorcisms? Unfortunately my priest has been hospitalized and doctors don't allow him to have any contact with other people. :( ...Oh maybe he's the source of my symptoms.

RE: Pool water allergy?

Former Member — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:04:33 GMT

No, that's why it's strange. It's an indoor pool, I've used it for nearly 2 years, and I don't usually have seasonal allergies of any sort :confused: OK, can you contact a priest who is familiar with exorcisms?

RE: Pool water allergy?

cheakamus — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:57:25 GMT

I had the same thing at the pool I used to swim in, which was considerably warmer and more chlorinated than the pool I swim in now. The sneezes, really violent ones, would start the morning after (I swam in the evenings) and last about half a day. If I didn't swim one day, I wouldn't have the runny nose and sneezing the next, which is how I associated it with the pool. I'm 58 and had never had any allergies before. My doctor said that allergies build up over time, and now I think I'm beginning to feel the effects of pollen too. Anyway, I did get some relief at my old pool by using a nasal rinse as soon as I got home. The rinse is just a plastic bottle with some saline solution that you squirt up one nostril until it comes out the other. It flushes out your sinuses. You can buy the apparatus—I think it's called Dr. Neal's Nasal Rinse—at a drugstore. It'll be in the aisle with all the other nasal stuff, but just remember, it's a rinse, not a spray!