Why do I have 'head cold' symptoms after swimming in a pool?

Question

I am a strong swimmer therefore I love to swim a lot. However this summer (it has just started) every time I'm in a pool, during and for almost 2-3 days after, I have 'head cold' symptoms, such as; congestion, sneezing etc. It's not like I swim in the same pool either. I believe it has something to do with the chlorine because I'm fine when I go swimming in a lake. I also can't dive after a while or swim underwater because above my eyebrow stings like a mother. That's definitely in frontal sinus cavity area...but maybe it also has something to do with being water logged instead? I don't know but I'd really like to just be able to swim like a normal person. Some advice or anything would be much appreciated :)

Answer 1

Allergies

Answer 2

Hmm.. sound like something I had going on last year.  Whenever i went to a meet (which lasted anywhere from 2 to 4 days), I would catch a cold for the next week or so afterwards.  It was crazy because i felt so horrible, but i wasn't doing anything wrong at meets.. Finally i went to the doctors and they thought it was allergies.... so htey prescribes my Singulair- an OTC drug that works to clear up sinuses and relieve tension in your head and pretty much not make you feel as bad.  So my advice: take a trip to the doc's and see what they can do for you!  Hope I helped you possibly figure out whats going on.

Answer 3

You have a sinus condition.  Sometimes they last a long time and you only feel it when you dive underwater with the increased pressure.

A common condition in swimming pools is not enough chlorine and too much organic matter causing chloramines that irritate eyes, nose and throat and other mucus membranes.  It is a health hazard to operate a pool in this condition and you may have received a bug in this fashion.

You're welcome!!