Swimming allowed: how to swim in open water without damaging your health?

Dreaming of swimming across the Bosphorus and the Volga, circumnavigating the Peter and Paul Fortress on the Neva or taking part in OCEANMAN? Summer is the best time to get out of cramped pools and try your hand at open water. Such workouts prepare you more effectively for the biggest swims, speed up your metabolism and strengthen your immune system.

There is nothing easier – forget about travel time and train in the nearest body of water. But you can swim not everywhere. Irina Saynog, a medical practitioner, told about what to pay attention to before swimming in open water.

Irina Sainog

general practitioner

Expert of “Championship”

The area around the water body

In summer, standing bodies of water are an environment for the development of infections. Garbage dumps or sewage pipes nearby can cause allergic reactions, chemical poisoning, parasitic and intestinal diseases such as enterovirus, dysentery, hepatitis A.

In addition, rats and stray animals living near waste often carry diseases. For example, rodents can infect people with leptospirosis, which affects capillaries, kidneys, liver, muscles and is accompanied by fever.

It is easy to get sick if you accidentally swallow water infected with microorganisms. The doctor notes several symptoms of the disease: high fever, muscle and joint pain, vomiting and jaundice.

Waterfowl

Bathing in areas where ducks and other waterfowl swim can lead to “swimmer’s disease” or “bather’s itch.” The main danger, according to the doctor, lies in circaria, a parasite that lives on the beaks of ducks. Their larvae penetrate the skin and die there, causing irritation, dermatitis and severe itching.

As a rule, waterfowl are found in places with grassy vegetation, so it is safest to swim in bodies of water with a sandy shore and bottom without algae.

Water temperature

The optimum water temperature for swimming is +22…+25°C. Warmer water is a good breeding ground for microorganisms. Swimming in it increases the risk of infection. If the water is colder than normal, there is a risk of hypothermia and cramps.

The British Triathlon Federation warns that the natural reaction to immersion in cold water is to constrict the arteries. On the one hand, it prevents bruising, relieves swelling and reduces the pain of injuries. On the other hand – at this time, the heart beats more frequently to deliver oxygen to major organs and muscles. This can lead to cardiogenic shock. It is especially important for people with heart disease or asthma to consult a GP before swimming in cold water.

What should I do after swimming in open water?

After swimming in open water bodies, you should wash with clean water and towel dry, and be sure to change out of your swimwear and into dry clothes. If you feel worse after swimming: fever, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or rash – it is important to immediately consult a doctor.

Who should not swim in open water?

First of all, in open water bodies can not swim those who do not know how to swim and feel insecure in the water. Also, people in a drunken state or in poor health should not do it.

Other stop signs include high body temperature (over 37°C), open wounds, skin and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the expert does not recommend swimming if you have symptoms of viral or bacterial infections: cough, sore throat, chills, muscle and joint pain.