Cold water ups risk of lung problem in swimmers

Last Updated: 2003-01-29 13:03:18 -0400 (Reuters Health) NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Strenuous swimming in cold water may cause a life-threatening build-up of fluid in the lungs, the recent cases of three US sailors show. Navy researchers report that the three men, all in their 20s, accumulated fluid in their lungs during a 2-mile ocean swim in water that was 67 degrees Fahrenheit. During their swims, the men--all undergoing training as Navy SEALs--developed symptoms that included dizziness, rapid breathing, confusion and coughing up blood. The swimmers recovered with treatment, but if they had been left untreated, the fluid in their lungs--the mark of a condition called pulmonary edema--would have cut off their access to oxygen, causing them to suffocate. These cases of pulmonary edema, reported this week in the February issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine, occurred even though the patients had worn wet suits. They also said they had not put their heads underwater or inhaled water during their swims. The report's authors, led by Dr. Keri L. Lund of the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California, say that they treat around 20 people each year who develop pulmonary edema while swimming. Once patients have recovered, the doctors advise them on how to swim without overexerting themselves, and suggest other ways to reduce their risk of future episodes. Pulmonary edema can occur in a number of situations, the authors note, and it has been documented in marathon runners, bicyclists and rugby players. In swimmers, cold water causes an increase in blood flow to the lungs, while exercise ups the amount of blood pumped from the heart. As a consequence, tiny blood vessels feeding the lungs may begin to leak, causing the lungs to fill with fluid. In one of the current cases, a 21-year-old man complained of shortness of breath, confusion and coughing after only 10 minutes of swimming. He got out of the water, and was taken to the emergency department, where doctors diagnosed him with pulmonary edema and gave him supplemental oxygen and a drug to open up his lungs. Another 25-year-old man developed pulmonary edema after swimming for 30 minutes, when he began to feel confused and weak, and started swimming off course. He was pulled from the water, and began wheezing and breathing rapidly. He also received oxygen and the lung-opening drug. None of the patients said they drank alcohol or smoked cigarettes. Copyright 2002 Reuters.

Back To
News    Top