Believe it or not, some people have a habit of swallowing pool water, intentionally or by accident, an unhealthy habit that should be kicked.
The weather’s been so hot and humid that taking a dip in the
pool or letting the sea waves lap over you sound like great ideas to cool off
and have fun, regardless of age! Meanwhile, it is also a form of exercise that
helps you to keep fit and get those muscles toned.
But swimming can have some flip points, ranging from
chemical reactions with chlorine in water to a spread of illnesses in a
well-populated pool. Before you change out and head for the tempting blue
waters, keep in mind some healthy habits that will prevent your swimming
excursion from turning awry.
Using sunblock and bathing before and after swimming are
good advice that most sensible people would rank on the top of their to-do
list, but there’s more to take note of!
Drink lots of water
Being submerged in water the whole time, we don’t often feel
dehydrated enough to be inclined to get out and drink water. In truth, if
you’re swimming in the afternoon, the sun can be damaging on the skin, and
you’re also perspiring from the heat and the exercise, although you may not
feel it. Furthermore, swimming pools contain chlorine, which dries out your
skin. Be sure to get out of the water for regular water breaks. To keep your
skin moisturised and prevent dryness and flaking from sunburns, apply
moisturiser after you shower.
Don’t swim when
you’re ill
For some people, working up a sweat makes them feel better
when they’re ill. To each his own, but when it comes to swimming, some
infections can be spread through water, especially gastroenteritis symptoms
such as diarrhoea or vomiting. Not only do you put other swimmers’ health at
risk, when your immune system is in a weaker state, you may get even more ill
after your swim from exposure to germs and bacteria from other swimmers.
Don’t swim if you have an open wound or infection
Your wound may become infected, and existing infections may
become more serious. It doesn’t matter if you have a band-aid over your wound.
Few band-aids are truly waterproof and it is common to have to change your
band-aid after a bath, which is why you can’t rely on it too much to keep
possibly polluted water away from your injury. If you have acne and lesions on
your face, the pool water can worsen your acne.
Avoid the sea after
heavy rainfall
Heavy rainfall collects pollutants from the streets into the
canals and is eventually flushed into the surrounding sea waters. The increase
in bacterial levels in the water makes the water unhealthy for swimming. Give
up to one day’s allowance after the rain stops before you take your dip.
Don’t swallow
Most people probably don’t do this, but children may be
susceptible to this habit, either by accident or because they think it is fun.
Pool water contains chlorine and other chemicals, while sea water may contain
pollution and algae. Be sure to educate your child against doing it. Keep an
eye on him/her if you must.
Refrain from a large
meal just before swimming
Just like you’re likely to get a stitch from running or any
form of vigorous exercise after eating, the same applies with swimming.
Generally, you should wait at least one hour before exercising after a full
meal. Even then, that does not make you immune to a stitch. People who have
eaten a large meal between one and two hours before a race have reportedly
complained about stitches in any case.
BBC News offers a scientific outlook on the nauseous
feeling one may get from vigorous activity on a full stomach. “Vigorous
exercise directs blood flow away from the digestive area to the skin and to the
muscles in your arms, legs and skin. So, if your food is still half-digested
this could make you nauseous. It’s the same reason that extreme fear makes you
feel sick. The fight-or-flight response abandons less-urgent processes like
digestion, diverting blood flow to the muscles so that you can defend yourself
physically, or run faster than you ever have before.”
But of course, if you simply intend to indulge in a
leisurely soak, there’s no evidence that a full meal can cause any harm.
Take the children on
regular bathroom breaks
Kids, when they’re having too much fun, they often dislike
stopping what they are doing for other more essential activities, and that
includes going to the bathroom. Some children only announce that they need to
go at the last moment, and that is often too later. Be considerate to other pool
users; do your part in keeping the pool sanitary by ensuring that your
dependents go to the toilet instead of relieving themselves in the very waters
you’re swimming in.
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