Swimming and the immune system

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:39:05 GMT

This is interesting. I've been swimming seriously for a little under 12 months (5 sessions or more per week, open and pool). When I first started in the pool I had the worst flu I've ever had after about three months. I put it down to three things; 1. Very virulent bug 2. My body was adapting to a larger volume of new exercise and my immunity was depressed. 3. I didn't realise it at the time but chlorinated water/chloramines were playing havoc with my sinuses. I had to start wearing a nose clip because I wasn't good at keping water out of my nose at that stage and because when I swam without it I woke up sneezing in the night and had a runny/blocked nose for the following 24 hours. I know nose clips get sneered at but at least I can still swim and function at work. Richard BTW I fel awesome now and haven't had a sniffle in the past eight months

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:28:20 GMT

And I thought I was the only one who did that :blush: That's what chlorine and filters are for ;)

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:55:52 GMT

How old are you? Do you have any known allergies and immune system issues? Chrinic sinus problems? Any history of Asthma? Is it really a cold that you are getting? Can you desribe the symptoms a bit more? Yes, actually I do have a history of allergies, I would say that my nose is blocked up maybe 80-90% of the time. As for the symptoms, I would said that I feel much more stuffed up (than usual), with increased phlem and alot of sneezing. Basically like a normal cold - it seems like colds I have gotten before when I wasn't swimming. It happened a few times before, but after thinking back I think I wasn't feeling too great last week either, so I think this might be a case where I should of rested, but instead pushed myself to keep training and possibly made myself sicker. But I still am a bit concerned that the lower chlorine level and/or generally bad maintenance of the pool I am swimming in (oftentimes there are many bugs in the water) could be contributing. Could be I am just paranoid though.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

knelson — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:14:24 GMT

Although if I swim 3-4 times a week, I guess the odds are that 50/50 that I would get sick after a day that I swim, even assuming the sickness is uncorrelated... So you are getting sick 100 times per year? That doesn't seem normal and that doesn't sound like common colds to me. I'd say the odds are good you're having some allergic reaction to something in the pool water.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:42:36 GMT

Yes, actually I do have a history of allergies, I would say that my nose is blocked up maybe 80-90% of the time. As for the symptoms, I would said that I feel much more stuffed up (than usual), with increased phlem and alot of sneezing. Basically like a normal cold - it seems like colds I have gotten before when I wasn't swimming. It happened a few times before, but after thinking back I think I wasn't feeling too great last week either, so I think this might be a case where I should of rested, but instead pushed myself to keep training and possibly made myself sicker. But I still am a bit concerned that the lower chlorine level and/or generally bad maintenance of the pool I am swimming in (oftentimes there are many bugs in the water) could be contributing. Could be I am just paranoid though. I was suspecting sinus issues. While it's not necessarily the chlorine or any specific substance that may be causing an allergy attack, it may be just breathing a lot of humid air near water that may be changing how you breathe, and adding humidity - and doing something to the sinuses. It could be softening mucus in the clogged up sinuses just enough to cause post-nasal drip irritation (rather then clearing them up completely), which could feel like a cold, and can lead to upper respiratory infection. Clogged up sinuses tend to have some bacteria in the mucus that causes sore throat what it gets in the throat. Community pools tend to be little warmer then competition pools, which means, a bit more humidity too. I'd see a doctor ... ask him that you suspect that you may have chronic sinus issues, and to help you treat/manage them. If sinus issues are causing this, getting it treated will cut down on the colds. en.wikipedia.org/.../Post-nasal_drip Sneezing and sudden congestion however may mean that you are having a bit of an allergic reaction. A doctor can ask you more key questions and help sort out of it's an allergy, or chronic sinus condition. You could try some allergy medicine before swimming, like a light dose of benadryl or something with anti-hystamines, if you're having allergic reaction, that should cut it down. If you haven't taken them before, start off with small doses and watch for side effects.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

philoswimmer — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:47:00 GMT

I have never noticed a tendency to get sick after swimming. What I have noticed is that if I feel like I am getting sick, swimming will make it worse. I do much better if, when I feel I am getting sick, I try to get lots of rest.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:50:59 GMT

I have noticed I seem to have a higher tendency to catch a cold the day after swimming. The pool is a community pool which seems to have much less chlorine than 'serious' pools, at least judging by the smell. Also there is frequently bugs and other things floating around in the water (maybe 1/3-1/2 of the time I am there). I am not sure if these things are contributing to me getting sicker more often, or if it is because of the added (physical) stress of swimming for about an hour. Also, in my recent training I think I have been swallowing a bit more water (or at least getting more in my mouth), that may be related as well. Anyone noticed higher odds of getting sick after swimming? Although if I swim 3-4 times a week, I guess the odds are that 50/50 that I would get sick after a day that I swim, even assuming the sickness is uncorrelated... How old are you? Do you have any known allergies and immune system issues? Chrinic sinus problems? Any history of Asthma? Is it really a cold that you are getting? Can you desribe the symptoms a bit more?

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:30:48 GMT

More than likely coincidental IMO. I always thought the exact opposite. When i'm taking a break from swimming, I seem to get sick around the time everyone else is getting sick. While swimming regularily, I notice many people around me getting sick but I don't. Likely still coincidence though. The only thing I noticed between getting sick and swimming is that I seem to get over a cold faster when I swim during having it. I've kindof attributed that to breathing out the nose while swimming. It's like blowing ones nose for 2 hours and getting all the junk out of the sinuses.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

bzaks1424 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:58:47 GMT

I only really get sick about once a year - and usually when I do its a huge kick in the rear. I haven't ever swam year round though. So we'll see when we hit November/December (the correlated time for getting sick... )

RE: Swimming and the immune system

DPC — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:57:48 GMT

I've noticed the opposite as well - maybe because I'm in better shape I can fight off more colds, or mabey its just luck. Since I started seriously training in the past two years, I have only had two or three serious colds (2 - 3 day ) annually, whereas before I was getting 5 or 6 a year, and they tended to linger. Maybe its a combination with eating better and sleeping better as well. I work in a school/germ factory so that I haven't been laid up with a serious flu or major cold in the past couple of years is pretty atypical.

RE: Swimming and the immune system

magick17 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:50:09 GMT

I'm quite the opposite.. never healthier...

RE: Swimming and the immune system

Former Member — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:16:02 GMT

The only thing I noticed between getting sick and swimming is that I seem to get over a cold faster when I swim during having it. I've kindof attributed that to breathing out the nose while swimming. It's like blowing ones nose for 2 hours and getting all the junk out of the sinuses. And I thought I was the only one who did that :blush: I find it works well for mild cases of swimmers ear too - get the chlorine to kill any bugs :bolt: