People love to swim in open water and it is said that by 2021 there will be over 3 million people taking part in the UK. But a new study warns that there is evidence of a link between the sport and a lung disease called swim-induced pulmonary edema (SIPE).
Age, body length, water coldness, female sex, high blood pressure and heart disease are risk factors. Doctors stress that SIPE often occurs in healthy people, and that swimmers have difficulty breathing and are deprived of oxygen.
The exact cause of SIPE is not fully understood, but it occurs when fluid builds up in the lungs even when a person does not drink water. People usually experience severe shortness of breath, hypoxia, and a wet cough.
The risk of SIPE when swimming in open water is also not well understood, but it is likely to be a rare case, according to the Royal United Hospitals Bath and University of Bath (UK) Cardiologists, who have treated women with the condition. A specialist reports.
“First reported in 1989, its incidence is probably low, estimated at 1.1% to 1.8%,” the authors note in their case report.
However, once SIPE develops, the likelihood of recurrence is very high.
“Relapses are common, reported in 13–22% of divers and swimmers. should be considered,” the authors write.
In this case, SIPE can affect the heart and lungs, as seen in the case of a woman in her 50s who did long-distance swims, did triathlons, and had no major health problems in the past. An important finding was presented.
During an open-water competition, he stopped swimming due to shortness of breath, and felt short of breath for days afterward.
She swam 3 kilometers the next weekend without any problems, but a week later she was out of breath again at 300 meters and started vomiting blood.
He was swimming in a wetsuit at night in 17°C water.
“When I was swimming across the quarry at night, I was hyperventilating and realized I couldn’t keep swimming. , the woman looked back after recovering.
“As soon as I got out and unzipped my wetsuit, I felt my lungs fill with liquid. I started coughing and had a metallic taste in my mouth. When I came out, I saw mucus. You can see it’s pink and bubbly.”
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