Experiencing plugged-up sinuses when you swim can interfere with your athletic performance and cause you to feel frustrated and miserable. Most of the time, congestion in your sinuses during swimming results from water getting into your nose or exposure to airborne irritants. Fortunately, you can prevent and treat plugged-up sinuses when you swim by changing your swimming routine and taking over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Symptoms
You might notice that your sinuses plug up more often when you swim in indoor chlorinated pools rather than outdoor pools or open bodies of water, such as a lake. In addition to sinus congestion, you might develop other symptoms, such as sinus headaches, reduced senses of smell and taste, facial pain, swelling around your nose and temples, earaches or toothaches, and nasal congestion. Your symptoms might resolve after you leave the pool or they could persist for several days to a week or longer, especially if you develop a sinus infection.
Causes
Swimming and diving can cause you to develop sinusitis, which is the medical term for stopped-up or plugged sinuses, advises the American Academy of Family Physicians website. Getting water up your nose, exposure to microbes in the water and exposure to any irritating chemicals found in the swimming pool can all trigger the swelling that leads to plugged sinuses, and could result in a sinus infection. Exposure to allergens, such as pollen, or other airborne irritants, such as smog or smoke, can also aggravate your sinuses, causing them to plug up while you swim.
Treatments
For mild sinusitis, you can try an over-the-counter saline nasal spray, a neti pot or sinus rinse along with a decongestant as recommended by your doctor. In addition, over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen can help treat the pain and pressure you feel when your sinuses are plugged up. If your plugged-up sinuses do not feel better after an at-home treatment, your doctor might recommend a prescription nasal spray to reduce the inflammation. If your sinus congestion develops into an infection, your doctor might also prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria so that your sinuses can drain.
Prevention
Drink plenty of water, decaffeinated tea and other non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated beverages to help thin your nasal secretions and promote the drainage of your sinuses. Avoid drinking alcohol, as alcohol can make the swelling and congestion worse, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians website. If exposure to pool chemicals worsens your sinus symptoms, try swimming in outdoor pools where the chemicals can dissipate into the air. If allergies or airborne pollutants worsen your condition, swimming in an indoor pool with ventilated air can help filter out those irritants that cause your sinuses to plug up when you swim.
Member Comments