Hi everyone
I haven't commented at all during lockdown but I have been keeping up with things.
My health has improved in this time....walking more, staying isolated and not mixing and not swimming...which I love.
I could go back to swimming now but I am quite anxious about it. My question is...do you think that chlorine affects bronchiectasis, in a non positive way? As much as I love it, I won't do it if it makes me ill!
Thank you! X
There is some information from US sources about chlorine and COPD, that some may find chlorine triggers an exacerbation of symptoms. its likely to be the same for some with Bronchiectasis.
Also an article from BMJ
You may be ok, but I guess if you get an exacerbation of symptoms shortly after your first swim since lockdown, there will be your answer.
I have to admit I stopped swimming because of the bugs and kids going with runny noses. Not very good for anyone with a lung condition.
Its good exercise but then so is walking.
More info here: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Thank you...and I will read these articles carefully.
I started having swimming lessons to help with my breathing tecnique when I was 6. I have lifelong bronch. Chlorine in pools has never bothered me and neither do cleaning products, perfumes, hairspray etc. My worst enemies- smoke of all types and diesel fumes. We are all different though so be guided by your body's reactions.
Thank you...I am going to book a swimming session and see what happens.
I think that’s a good idea. If chlorine has never bothered you in all your years of swimming with bronchiectasis there is no reason that it should start to do so now. Many people on this forum have copd which is very different to bronch and much literature about these chemicals also concentrates on their affect on people with copd and also asthma. Unfortunately many chemicals and products cause them problems which most of us bronchs don’t experience.
My almost teenage daughter has cystic fibrosis with relatively severe lung damage for her age, including some bronchiectasis, and the respiratory physios are incredibly keen on swimming as a good choice of exercise. Which is just as well, because it’s one of the few physical activities she’ll actually entertain, although we haven’t been since February at this point. She personally never has any issues as a result of the chlorine irritating her, and that’s with both the bronch element and extensive small airway disease. She’s extremely productive and symptomatic pretty much all day, every day, even when doing well.
There is no established school of thought that chlorine in swimming pools is definitively harmful to anyone, regardless of any respiratory diagnosis they may have, although airway irritation could be a possibility if an individual has particularly sensitive lungs. That said, my personal understanding is that airway irritation as a result of inhaling chemicals and sprays etc. is generally an issue with COPD, asthma and small airway driven conditions moreso than with bronchiectasis, although as Littlepom has said, everyone is different. If you’ve swum for years in chlorinated pools and never experienced any tightness or other obvious respiratory symptoms as a direct result, my view would be that chlorine isn’t an irritant for you personally, and therefore swimming probably remains a really beneficial activity for you to be doing to maintain lung function.
Thank you so much...very positive.
There are also brine swimming pools, which are like swimming in the sea.
Thank you...I will Goggle these for my area.
Just something to consider...
My granddaughter had swimming lessons in a school pool. Her skin erupted so badly that she was unable to continue. It transpired they were using a different chemical in the water. I think it was called bromine or broline... something like that. When her mother found out she tried her in a chlorine treated pool and she was fine. Until then I thought all pools used chlorine but apparently not.
Just thinking if you have a flare up when you go back to swimming maybe see if there is a another pool using a different chemical and try it out.
Obviously I appreciate that skin reactions are not the same as we get, but the knowledge that there are different sterilising chemicals that can be used may be helpful.
Also, I have discovered that there are quite a few private pools around that can be hired. This would probably work best financially if you went with Friends and split the cost.
Good luck with your swimming!
Xx Moy
Thank you, will see if I have a reaction and check which chemicals are being used.
Have u noticed any difference whilst not swimming? Id go by that x
Yes, absolutely, but I think I'm healthier due to self isolation and walking!
some people react to it . I have problems with perfumes ,cigarette smok,e and diesel fumes as well as chlorine.]
your only answer is to try it and see how you feel . the exercise is good for and they might use another substance to sterilise . ask them
Yes, all the advice leads to this....so that's what I must do. Thank you.
I have had bronchiectasis all my life and have never had a problem with chlorine in a pool. I know a lot of people with bronch who have not had a problem either. However, many of us would never go near a sauna, jacuzzi, steam room etc because of pseudomonas.
If it’s something you love and you have not had a problem before, you might want to give it another go if the pool is not crowded.
Good luck.
Cx
Thank you...we now have to book our swimming slots, so there won't be overcrowding.....so I'm going to get back to it and monitor everything.
Thank you everyone.....always so knowledgeable and forthcoming with excellent advice! X
I have bronchiectasis and am on azithromycin, swimming was recommended to me by ny consultant and physio. I do find that I cough more after, but that is because with the extra breathing involved, loosens everything up which is a good thing. The chlorine has never bothered me, I have missed going during lockdown
Thank you! Yes, I have missed it, too, but have been better, generally. I am going to give it a go next week and see how I go! X
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