Swimming and proper nasal hygiene prevent colds and ear infections in children
There is a myth that circulates unaltered among parents everywhere, that swimming, especially in the cold season, can lead to colds or ear infections in children. Our goal in this article is to dissect and debunk it with information supported by studies and doctors.
About the nose and its role in respiratory system health
The nose, more precisely its mucosa, is the first line of defense of the respiratory tract against allergens, bacteria and polluting particles. The mucociliary layer actively participates in respiratory homeostasis using protective mechanisms such as nasal cilia, mucus secretion and the release of mediators in response to dangerous stimuli coming from the outside.
What happens when a threat arises?
Dangerous particles are retained by the mucus and the action of the cilia pushes the layer of mucus that has captured the "enemies" towards the pharynx, where it is swallowed, thus providing an effective cleaning of the nasal cavity. When this well-developed transport system of the body is altered, the result can be an inflammatory process that leads to the damage of the entire nasosinusal mucosa, which thickens the mucus, making it difficult to eliminate it and stimulating the growth of bacteria.
Therefore, a healthy nasal mucosa is essential for respiratory health and numerous studies have shown that proper nasal hygiene can prevent respiratory diseases and viral or bacterial infections, such as flu, colds, sinusitis, rhinitis, stuffy nose or otitis media.
What is proper nasal hygiene in children?
Specialists recommend that nasal hygiene for children be done naturally, at any time during the day, but preferably in the morning and evening, maintaining the natural humidity of the nasal mucosa with isotonic saline solutions. These saline solutions help clean nasal cilia and reduce or prevent nasal mucosa congestion, thus facilitating natural sinus cleansing. But the most important detail, before providing support to the nasal mucosa, is to teach children how to blow their nose properly. This way, we avoid sending existing secretions, which may be laden with unfavorable elements, into the sinuses. Don't forget! Mucus that captures these elements is swallowed when the system is healthy; it isn't sent to the sinus cavities and ears, as happens when we deal with inflammation.
The benefits of nasal hygiene
- Removes thick and persistent mucus, reducing nasal congestion
- Clears sinuses
- Removes allergens, irritants and dangerous contaminants
- Prevents and treats acute or viral sinusitis
- Prevents ear infections, colds and flu or shortens their duration
- Reduces symptoms of respiratory infections, such as cough, stuffy nose or snot
- Supports respiratory health
About how the nose and swimming make a good team in preventing respiratory diseases
We have learned so far that it is very important to support nasal health with proper hygiene. And, you are probably wondering, but doesn't swimming pose a threat in this regard? How can it be a good team to prevent otitis, for example, when we expose our nose and ears to pool water?
" What needs to go into the ear to clean the ear. Water can easily pass through the canal and clean out dust. But, if the water is cold, it becomes dangerous in the pool. It is important that the water in the pool is over 30 degrees Celsius and the room where the pool is located must be over 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, if the water entering the ear is warm, it poses no danger. It is very important that, when we get out of the pool, besides warming our body and head well, we also wash our nose. Because you produce secretions from the humidity and, if you don't blow your nose, they go to the back of your nose and into your ear and lead to otitis media. Therefore, I advise parents to teach their children to blow their noses when they get out of the pool.", says Dr. Ana-Maria Postol, ENT specialist at the show "Neatza with Răzvan and Dani".
And here we come back to an important detail: blowing your nose, followed by its hygiene.
Follow the advice of Dr. Ana-Maria Apostol – ENT Physician HERE
But how does swimming help?
Well, at Acvatic Bebe Club, in addition to the fact that the water temperature and that of the room where the pool is located are over 30 degrees, which provides preventive safety in any season, we also offer children, from a very young age, this extremely healthy habit: nose blowing.We teach them how to blow bubbles in the water by exhaling through their nose, so they get used to it and blowing their nose becomes natural.
Moreover, studies have shown that the humid air of swimming pool rooms offers protection to the nasal passages and prevents the mucous membrane from drying out. Swimming, especially in the water of our pools, where its disinfection is done through a mixed system of saline electrolysis, ozone and UV rays with a direct effect on quality and purity, keeps the child's airways open, providing better oxygenation, but also an effective cleaning of the airways. Therefore, it is recommended by specialists that after swimming time, the child should blow his nose well, then clean it with a nasal spray with sea water.
And, because the nose is now clean and ready to absorb the benefits of aerosols, it's time for a session at SalinabyABC.
Thus, we not only prevent the occurrence of any ENT disease, but also support the health of the ear, nose, throat, upper respiratory tract, and sinuses.
source
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0301054620300264
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/8/1/64
https://cdn.gn1.link/iapo/manuals/viii_manual_en_21.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00016480410017657
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/act.2010.16302?journalCode=act
