Each year, about 15 to 20 outbreaks of diseases, including stomach bugs and diarrhea, are blamed on dirty public pools, according to the CDC. A quarter of theses outbreaks are caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses that could have easily been prevented had the pools been properly chlorinated and monitored.
Which disease could be spread via swimming pool contamination? Swimmers can inadvertently become exposed to a number of potentially dangerous waterborne pathogens that can contaminate pool water including E. coli, Salmonella, Camplobacter, Legionella, Pseudomonas and norovirus.
Germs can be found almost anywhere, including in swimming pools and hot tubs. This means that proper cleaning and maintenance of your pool and hot tub are essential to preventing getting sick while swimming.
But while taking a dip is a great way to beat the heat, many public pools are crawling with germs -- and, if not treated properly, can pose a major health risk.
Can I get sick from swimming in a pool? Yes, there are many illnesses that can be transmitted in pool water. However, the risk of contracting disease in a properly maintained pool is low. People can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites within their bodies and on their skin.
Norovirus can live in water for several months or possibly even years. Swimming venues that are not treated with chlorine can pose a particular risk since there are no chemicals to kill the stomach virus.
While it's unpleasant, the fact is that the chlorine is doing its job, fighting off bacterial growth. When bacteria goes unchecked, whether in swimming pools, water parks or lakes, it can cause recreational water illnesses like diarrhea and skin infections.
Each year, about 15 to 20 outbreaks of diseases, including stomach bugs and diarrhea, are blamed on dirty public pools, according to the CDC. A quarter of theses outbreaks are caused by bacteria, parasites and viruses that could have easily been prevented had the pools been properly chlorinated and monitored.
Despite attempts to disinfect the pool, some pathogens may still lurk in the water. And research suggests that disinfectants may pose their own health hazards. Swimming in chlorinated pools, particularly indoor pools, might put kids at higher risk for developing respiratory illnesses, including asthma and hay fever.
Pools and lakes are full of germs that can make you sick. Some of the common issues you can get from swimming in a lake or pool are diarrhea, skin rashes, respiratory illness and swimmers ear. People typically contract one of these illnesses when they accidentally ingest contaminated water.
So, yes, since the bacteria that cause the common cold can enter water, you can catch a cold from swimming in a pool. Although the chlorine in the pool might kill some germs, it might not kill all of the bacteria.
Without proper maintenance and care, a dirty pool can cause recreational water illnesses (RWIs). These illnesses include diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory infections, rashes, and/or inflamed eyes and lungs. That may sound alarming, but a well-maintained pool leaves nothing to fear.
Swimming every day is good for the mind, body, and soul. A dip into your backyard pool or nearby lake does wonders for your health. Unlike other types of cardio exercises like biking or running, swimming works your entire body from head to toe and burns major calories.
Breathing high levels of chlorine causes fluid build-up in the lungs, a condition known as pulmonary edema. The development of pulmonary edema may be delayed for several hours after exposure to chlorine. Contact with compressed liquid chlorine may cause frostbite of the skin and eyes.
The bottom line: We're vastly better off having pool chemicals than not, and chemically treated pools are generally safe to swim in, especially if they are well maintained and ventilated. Add to that some time-honored advice that probably bears repeating: Don't pee in the pool.
What's important for you to know: You shouldn't swim in a pool that's green until you test the chemical levels, like the officials in Rio did before the diving event began. It's the balance of things like chlorine, pH, and alkalinity in a pool that keeps it sterilized.
Swimming pools can increase their chlorine content to the point of killing every parasite, but there's evidence that this can increase the risk of asthma attacks and even cancer. However, if there's not enough chlorine in the water, there's the danger of parasites like cryptosporidium and bacteria like E.
The Bottom Line about Pools and Chlorine
As mentioned above, you could probably swim in a pool without chlorine without any major health issues. However, long-term use of a pool lacking chlorinated H2O could make you sick or, at the very least, contribute to rashes and other types of skin irritation.
The general bacterial flora count was commonly greater than 200 per mL; only 14% of chlorine-treated pools and 27% of Baquacil-treated pools consistently gave counts of less than 200 per mL. Coliforms were detected in 66% of chlorine-treated pools and in 22% of Baquacil-treated pools.
Although swallowing a small amount of pool water is harmless, it's important for parents to realize that ingesting too much can lead to chlorine poisoning or so-called recreational water illness, according to Dr. Sampson Davis, an emergency room physician at Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center in New Jersey.
But Mell says that if even a little water gets into the lungs of a child, this causes symptoms that you can notice right away, not ones that appear days later. Doctors say if children ingest or inhale water, they can get complications in the hours or days afterward that include bacterial infections and pneumonia.
Crypto is the most common cause of diarrheal illness and outbreaks linked to swimming pools or water playgrounds because it is not easily killed by chlorine and can survive up to 10 days in properly treated water.
During these 30 days, my vital lung capacity improved, my average resting heart rate dropped and I also got faster! My average swimming pace dropped about 10% by the end of the month. I was able to swim faster with less energy just by improving my feel of the water and my aerobic capacity.
However, it should be noted that regular swimming doesn't specifically target belly fat. Rather, it burns any excess fat that your body has reserved for energy, regardless of whether this fat is located on your stomach, hips, thighs, or other parts of your body.