Why does swimming give a headache and how to avoid it?

Experts shared their opinion on why the headache may occur during swimming and diving. The pathological process can develop under the influence of certain factors, which we will reveal in this article and advise how to avoid headaches while and after swimming.

Why does the head hurt after swimming?

Many people expect a boost of cheerfulness and energy from classes in the pool. However, your enthusiasm will fade as soon as your head starts to hurt after swimming. Headaches can be caused by several factors, starting from the type of swimming equipment to chlorinate water.

However, swimmers continue to suffer from headaches while diving into the water. What are the reasons?

During swimming, our body is in a horizontal position. However, in the pool, the body position changes very often, from vertical to horizontal. In addition, we spend a lot of time in an environment that is not quite familiar to us. Frequent shiftings of position are not usual in our daily life, and therefore do not always have a good effect on our well-being. A person practically ceases to feel his real weight due to the density of water and the body density. Specifically, the above facts are a common cause of headaches after visiting the pool. Based on this, it can be understood that the body experiences a kind of vestibular gymnastics. This is the reason why swimming is recommended for people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia or dizziness.

Another of the main causes of headaches during swimming is diving. This is because a person has to hold the air. This process leads to short-term, but still oxygen starvation.

Experts note that if headaches after classes in the pool are regular, then it is worth watching, after which exactly the headache begins. There may be several more reasons for the pathological process.

For example, have you ever wondered can chlorine cause headaches? It can. Chlorine is one of the most recent reasons that causes constant headaches while swimming. If the pool water contains a large amount of chlorine and other harmful substances to purify the liquid, thus it may provoke headaches after a long swim. Chlorine can irritate the nasal membrane and the mucous membrane in the cavities of the sinuses, which leads to the well-known disease sinusitis.

Water pressure can also provoke sinusitis and as a result, leads to the formation of otitis.

Buying a nose clip could be a good decision If you suffer from this type of headache. They are convenient and easy to use.

Another reason lies in the conditions. If the pool room is located in a too steamy room or strong temperature changes are often observed, then this can lead to the development of a pathological process, in particular, headache after swimming in cold water. Cold water can provoke hypothermia, which causes pain in the head.

The next factor is increased loads. With excessive fatigue during training, the human body begins to deplete, and the immune system weakens. You could overdo it and put too much strain on the body, muscles, and backbone. What should you do in this case? Start training with 20-30 minutes, gradually increasing the time, and take a break between laps.

Do not make sudden movements with your hands and feet. Swim smoothly, the ideal option is frog-like. Try to swim on the back without hands. For half of the lessons, you should swim on a board. It's not easy, but it strengthens the muscular corset of the back, and the legs muscles. The less you row with your hands, the less the load on the spine. Over time, when you strengthen your muscular corset and your vessels, you can gradually start active training, trying to perform breaststroke or crawl, and then monitor your well-being.

Neuropathologists recommend swimming in the pool, since visiting the pool only 2 times a week can strengthen the muscular corset and get rid of back pain.

Other reasons for headaches are low blood pressure and other diseases. With hypotension, the load on the human body in the pool should be minimal. If the safety rules are not followed, a person may notice how his head starts to ache regularly after swimming.

Another factor is the external pressure on the head. For example, a headache can be caused by a too tightly tightened elastic band of glasses or an uncomfortable swim cap. This type of headache is caused by pressure on the surface of the head and forehead. As a rule, this type of headache occurs instantly, as soon as you have crushed the forehead or skull. Most likely, you will begin to suffer from headaches even before the end of the lesson. But the pain goes away immediately after the pressure eases.

Can otitis become a reason for headaches?

In some cases, irritation and discomfort in the ears can cause headaches.

Otitis is an infection inflammation in the ear canal that caused bacteria that multiply inside the ear. The symptoms of otitis are:

• ear pain — acute, aching, intense; 
• noise in the ear;
• temporary hearing disorders;
• change in body temperature;
• symptoms of intoxication — general weakness, headache, dizziness;

Unlike adults, children are particularly susceptible to otitis due to narrower ear canals.

If you suffer from headaches caused by otitis, try using use earplugs to prevent the appearance of the disease.

How to get rid of headaches after swimming?

To prevent the appearance of an unpleasant symptom, it is necessary to prevent diseases, strengthen the body, monitor nutrition, and follow small rules. Measures to prevent symptoms should be as follows:

• It is important to strengthen blood vessels. To do this, perform light physical exercises daily, walk in the fresh air for at least 2 hours, and brisk walking or jogging is useful. Take a contrast shower in the morning and evening.
• Do neck exercises
• To avoid headaches after swimming, you need to eat 1.5 hours before swim training. It should be vegetables, meat, a small piece of dark chocolate, or a sip of natural vitamin juice. During active swimming, there is a large consumption of calories, so people often feel dizzy after leaving the pool.
• You can not abruptly leave the pool, you need to stand for a while, and walk slowly to stabilize the blood pressure and heartbeat.
• Watch your diet. It should consist of cereals, meat, fish, and legumes. Include foods with high iron content on the menu.
• In spring and autumn, take vitamins to prevent anemia and vitamin deficiency.
• In case of diseases of the cardiovascular system, be sure to consult with your doctor before visiting the pool.

There are still a lot of grounds due to the impact of which visiting the pool leads to unpleasant sensations in the head. They can be avoided if you responsibly approach the rules set out above. Enjoy your favorite sport and do not feel discomfort, do not suffer акщь headaches when swimming, and take care.