Wetsuits & health risks?

Former Member
Former Member
I'm curious what the ratio of deaths is for the swim portion of triathlons vs open water swims. Or maybe phrased a better way: I wonder if swimmers wearing wetsuits are more at risk of health issues than those not wearing wetsuits. This comes after learning of another death in the swim leg of a triathlon (athlete was wearing a wetsuit, but also had a known heart problem). I sometimes feel nauseous after swimming in a wetsuit. I wonder if the constrictive nature of the suits might exacerbate any health issues in athletes (such as cardiac problem or other). Just curious. I'm not against wetsuits, but I have a feeling the industry targets triathletes since they're less familiar w/ swimming and believe they require more of a cushion.
Parents
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I have never completed a race in a wetsuit. Last year I thought I might need one for a race so I wore it to practice. The mere rubbery smell of the suit made my throat and sinuses feel bad. Classic signs of a neoprene allergy. My suggestion is to steer clear of the stuff. I don't know why, but there seems to be a high incidence of this allergy among open water swimmers.
Reply
  • Former Member
    Former Member
    I have never completed a race in a wetsuit. Last year I thought I might need one for a race so I wore it to practice. The mere rubbery smell of the suit made my throat and sinuses feel bad. Classic signs of a neoprene allergy. My suggestion is to steer clear of the stuff. I don't know why, but there seems to be a high incidence of this allergy among open water swimmers.
Children
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