Should You Swim with a Sore Throat?

If you’re a regular or even daily swimmer, it can be hard to break your routine and skip a day at the pool.

Most of the time, you really shouldn’t break your routine. However, there are some cases where you may need to, such as when you have a sore throat.

Even if you feel okay otherwise and still want to swim, bear in mind that you might spread germs and bacteria by hopping in the pool, which could cause others who use the pool to get sick.

Plus, it’s often best to rest when you first get a sore throat. Sometimes, a little less activity and a little more sleep can help your sickness from getting worse. This is especially true if you swim in cold water. When you’re getting sick, staying warm and dry is what you need to improve.

As a final note, do take notice if you get sore throats often. They could be connected to your swimming! Some people are susceptible to Recreational Water Illness, which can be mild or severe. If it turns out you do have this condition, you will need to take some time to recover, and you may want to find a new place to swim. RWI can be caused by dirty pools, as well as by the algae in natural waters. Swimming only in clean, properly chlorinated pools can reduce your chances of contracting RWI and its complications.

So, the bottom line is that you can swim with a sore throat, but you probably shouldn’t. There are just too many risks to yourself and others. And, you should also take notice if you think the water itself may be a cause of your sickness.