Now that we are a few weeks into the indoor swim season, I was wondering if anyone is having any health issues that might be attributable to indoor swimming. I am generally referring to domed pools or other facilities with limited circulation (i.e. not your major university natatorium).
The reason I ask is that my wife has been really struggling with breathing and general energy levels at our pool. In the past week or so, I too have been feeling some of the same symptoms, most notably difficulty breathing during all workouts and a general low energy level. We can safely rule out overtraining as a cause because overall workout time has gone down since daylight has become more scarce.
Other items of note: The lifeguards have been ill also with maladies ranging from bronchitis to the low energy level that I referenced above. The age group team that trains in the pool has also been struggling lately, with only half the number of AA times that they had last year. The coach often has to modify the distance workouts so that they now rarely do anything more than a 200 straight. Some of the physical therapists who work in the therapy pool also note similar symptoms.
I am interested to hear if anyone has similar health issues with their indoor pools beyond the normal, “It is hot and stuffy in here.”
My winter pool is a dump but its the only option. From what you’re describing I’d find someplace else to go. It may be something in the water; or the air. Sounds bizzare. Seriously, I’d stay away for a week or two and see if you get ‘better’. Perhaps a call to the health dept. They live for this kind of stuff.
That sounds like a mold problem to me. We had a leak in the basement here at my office (software company where all the engineers work in the basement because there isn’t much light) last year that caused a ton of health problems in most of our staff. Something to check into.
That sounds like a mold problem to me. We had a leak in the basement here at my office (software company where all the engineers work in the basement because there isn’t much light) last year that caused a ton of health problems in most of our staff. Something to check into.
Chris
Ha, you sound like the guy from Office Space who gets stuck working in the moldy basement. You better check with HR to make sure you’re still employed there. You don’t want to hear it from Lumberg.
Could this be what they call “swimmers hack”. I was told once that indoor pools will have cholrine gas that hangs over the pool and will not dissapate like an outdoor pool would. Anyone care to add and comment on this? I have had some of these syptoms when swimming indoors.
I always feel terrible after training with this masters squad, and during it. I always swim much slower when training there it seems, despite having people to push me along. I have come to the conclusion it is most definitely the pool. I train elsewhere when I train by myself and I don’t get the same itchy skin etc. I disliked the pool first time I ever swam there
Believe it or not, the basement is the most covetted area of the office for the engineers. My “cube” is furthest from the rear-facing windows (we’re on a slope), so most days I can avoid all contact with light while working.
I work at a university natatorium, and can confirm that even in the best cirulated indoor pools there is an amount of chlorine gas that “hovers” about one to two feet above the water level. A way to confirm this is to take a look at the condition of the “stainless” steel hand rails,or backstroke flag polls, is there any rust on the lower ends, near the water? However, I would have to agree with the earlier post, the conditions you have described seems to go beyond chlorine in the air, and IMO relate most to a mold problem. Unkept filter,pump rooms, which are often wet and dark can be a source of mold. If not attended to, bacteria can spread to the pool area.