Almost 100 years ago, Dr. Frederick Hasty wrote an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) lamenting the frequency of sinus infections due to swimming. You’d think families today would be forewarned and forearmed for summer so they could avoid the pain of a swimming-related sinus infection.
Unfortunately, most people aren’t aware that you can take steps to prevent sinus infections in yourself and your family, whether you only swim in summer or you swim year-round. Even among competitive swimmers, about 35% have nasal symptoms after training.
Our expert allergist Catherine Fuller, MD, helps you and your family recover from sinusitis at our office in West Los Angeles, California. She also recommends taking preventive steps to help keep your nasal and sinus passages infection free.
Are you or your kids prone to swimmer’s sinusitis? Here’s what you can do to prevent the next case.
Sometimes, the only reason you get sinusitis from swimming is because the water irritates the lining of your nasal cavities. Swimming pool water itself can be irritating. So can some of the substances that dissolve into or float on the surface of an indoor or outdoor pool or body of water, including:
While you’re swimming, be sure to blow air out of your nose when exhaling to prevent the water from irritating it. After swimming, a good nose blow into a handy tissue may help rid your nasal passages of irritants, including water.
If you’re troubled by nasal and sinus symptoms after swimming, use a nasal plug to pinch your nostrils closed. The plug prevents the water from entering your sinuses. If you’ve been swimming for a long time, you may be especially sensitive to the irritative effects of chlorine.
If you swim in lakes, oceans or rivers, a nasal plug can block some of the bacteria in the water. When bacteria lodge in the nasal passages or sinuses, they can cause an infection that leads to sinusitis.
Right after swimming, you may find that you benefit from using a saline nasal spray. The saline helps clean out irritants and pathogens. If you have allergies, try an antihistamine or nasal spray made specifically for allergies.
You might also get a neti pot and use that regularly. Be sure to use only distilled water with a neti pot, and regularly disinfect the pot itself. If you don’t keep the pot clean, or if you use tap water, you could give yourself a nasal infection.
If you’re irritated by chlorine, look for a pool that uses saline or bromine instead. An indoor pool might have too many fumes for your comfort. An outdoor pool might have too much pollen in the water. Switch it up until you find a pool that makes your sinuses happy.
Even natural bodies of water differ in terms of bacteria levels and pollen counts. You may need to swim around until you find the best swim spot for you and your family.
If you or a family member develops sinusitis, you can take steps to prevent it from worsening and to minimize discomfort. Try out these tips:
If symptoms don’t improve within a few days, make an appointment to see Dr. Fuller. You may have a bacterial infection that can be cleared with a course of antibiotics. Or your sinusitis may be caused by another pathogen, which would require alternative treatments.
Keep yourself and your family safe from swimmer’s sinusitis this year by paying attention to your nasal passages. If you’re suffering from swimming-related nasal pain or sinusitis, call us today at 310-828-7978 or request an appointment online for sinusitis treatment.
