Which is safer Swimming in the sea or in the pool?

This creates a sense of wellness in addition to burning calories and strengthening muscles.

But along with the joys of outdoor swimming come some risks. Not only are swimmers at risk from tides, currents and waves, there can also be nasty bugs and bacteria lurking in the water.

And with untreated sewage regularly flowing into the seas, rivers and lakes, it can be difficult to find a safe place to paddle.

Of course, swimming in the pool comes with its own set of risks. Urinary tract infections, ear infections, and abdominal infections are among the most common diseases that are detected. Dirty puddles can also sting your eyes and harbor all sorts of bacteria and germs — including urine, feces, and sweat.

But while swimming in outdoor waters obviously carries different risks than swimming in a pool, the question of where is the safest place to swim may not seem immediately obvious.

Toxic water

Unlike swimming pools where the water is carefully monitored, the outside water is constantly changing in composition. This means that chemicals can leach into wild water from nearby farms or industrial areas, animals can defecate in the water, and in certain areas human sewage may be legally or otherwise dumped into the water.

There may be no warning signs of local hazards, and the presence of toxic agents may not be apparent. When in doubt about the chemical safety of outdoor water, it is best not to enter it. If the water doesn't look or smell good, trust your instincts.

There are also natural hazards to outdoor water compared to swimming pools, especially in the summer. Blue-green algae is a type of bacteria found naturally in lake ecosystems. In warm summers, algae tend to overgrow and form a green scum (known as bloom) on the surface of the lake. Blue-green algae blooms can release toxins that are harmful to humans and sometimes fatal to pets.

Swimming or swallowing water containing toxin algae blooms can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, severe gastrointestinal upset, fever, and muscle and joint pain.

bacteria and viruses

Diarrhea is the most common illness associated with open water swimming, often due to sewage contamination. You get sick if you swallow contaminated water, which can contain bacteria and viruses such as Escherichia coli and norovirus.

Rats that live in streams near freshwater rivers or canals can carry in their urine the bacterial pathogen Leptospira, which causes leptospirosis (Will's disease). Infection occurs if soil or water from a lake, river, or canal containing urine from infected animals is swallowed.

Leptospirosis can damage the liver and kidneys and can be fatal if left untreated. If you develop flu or jaundice symptoms up to two weeks after swimming in a river or canal, it may be a good idea to ask your doctor for a leptospirosis test.

As for the sea, a 2018 study found that people who swam in seawater were more likely to develop infections in the ear, nose, throat and gastrointestinal tract than those who stayed on the beach. So it's a good idea to wash up after swimming in any outdoor waters, and certainly before eating.

verdict

When you add it all up, even with the possibility of people urinating and defecating in the pool, a managed pool will always be a safer environment for swimming. Especially when you consider things like jellyfish stings and the added risks that come with swimming in cold water.

Compared to a pool, wild swimmers are more likely to become unwell from swimming in outdoor waters where there will always be potential disease-causing microbes present. Swimming pool water, with appropriate disinfection levels of chlorine and maintaining a pH, is less likely to contain infectious microorganisms and is therefore a safer environment for recreational swimming. The possibility of injuries and drowning is also reduced in swimming pools as there are trained lifeguards and safety equipment.

Perhaps, then, a managed outdoor pool offers the best of both worlds - swimming with the sun on your back in a healthy environment.

The report was prepared by Primrose Friston, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester.

Source: ScienceAlert

A gastroenterologist explains why you should not swallow gum

Many warn against swallowing gum because the stomach may not be able to digest it for years. Although this theory is based on a "common myth", there are real reasons why we should avoid swallowing gum.

Dr. Sarah Moselhi, a gastroenterologist, says that the intestines cannot digest gum because its main component is the gum base, or the basic chewing material made of synthetic rubber.

She points out that this component is transmitted through the healthy body and can then cause a blockage in the digestive system, which may lead to nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The basic chewing materials are what give gum the texture that makes it chewable, according to the International Chewing Gum Association (ICGA).

These materials consist of a mixture of mucilage (an indigestible, rubbery substance used to give gum its rubbery property.), softeners (which are substances added to keep the gum moist and prevent it from hardening, and may be waxes such as paraffin or mineral oils) and non-toxic polymers and safe to consume (a series of molecules that make the gum soft and pliable).

"The gummy base is made of synthetic rubber, which is not digested by the human body. Instead, these materials travel through a healthy digestive system," Dr. Moselhi said.

It claims that because the stomach is not designed to break down the gum base material, the gum may take longer to process.

She added: "The idea that gum stays in your body for years is a common myth. In fact, gum will eventually pass through your digestive system like any other food into the toilet, but it may take a little longer."

But she warned that "swallowing" large amounts of gum, or several small pieces in a short period of time, could form a block that hinders the digestive system from doing its duty.

The digestive system is the organs through which food and liquids travel when swallowed, digested and absorbed, before leaving the body in the form of feces. This blockage can disrupt this process and cause annoying digestive problems, but this is rare.

Dr. Moselhy, who works for the ProbioticReviewGirl website, claims the gum can also increase the risk of choking and cause "serious respiratory problems" if accidentally inhaled.

While the International Gum Association (ICGA) confirms that swallowing gum does not pose a greater risk than the risks of swallowing any other food.

Source: Daily Mail

An innovation that could revolutionize the beauty industry!

Toiletry bags could get a lot lighter after researchers created a "dry" moisturizer in a confetti-like tablet.

A small packet contains a flat circle of substance the size of a pound coin. The product is made of a thin, paper-like material and only needs a drop of water to become hydrated - because the product is mostly water.

A process called electrospinning was used to remove the oil and water. This means that a month's worth of humidifier can be placed in a tub about 3 cm in diameter.

And the product would not need preservatives if it was created in this dry form.

Professor Sheng Qi, who created the prototype of the moisturizer at the University of East Anglia, said the technology could be used for sun cream, shampoo and conditioner, among other potential applications.

She said: “This moisturizer can be carried in a small paper bag, as if you were carrying a mint scent in your bag. It only takes one drop of water to rehydrate. Most cosmetics and toiletries contain up to 95% water, which leads to "To heavy units in terms of volume and bulky packaging. Each year, 120 billion units of cosmetics and toiletries are packaged and shipped globally, so the industry has a huge carbon footprint."

The researcher said: Unlike other water-free cosmetic products currently available, the technology used to dry the moisturizer does not include heat, which means that proteins, peptides and other "sensitive" ingredients remain well preserved.

And because the water is squeezed out of the moisturizer, there is no need for chemical preservatives, because without water, there is less risk of growth of moisture-loving bacteria.

The researchers originally created the product for drug delivery, but they found it could be useful for cosmetic products.

Source: Daily Mail