Having a backyard swimming pool is just a way of life here in Central Florida. Whether it’s for cooling off and relaxing in the water, having fun with the kids, getting some exercise, or just enjoying the calmness of the water, swimming pools are what memories are made from. If you are ready for your new swimming pool, contact Dreamscapes Pools and Spas, where we make your dream backyard come true.
Over the years, everyone has heard of a few swimming pool myths, but are they really fact or fiction?
Wait 30 minutes after you eat before you take a swim in the pool
One well known rumor says you should wait 30 minutes after you eat before you go swimming, if not you could experience extreme cramping which could result in drowning. This is simply not true! Though swimming on a full stomach some discomfort, it does not induce drowning.
Duke Health reveals why this myth isn’t true, as well as some great tips on to effectively combine exercise and eating.
The common belief that the blood going to your digestive tract after eating steals the blood needed to keep your arms and legs pumping during swimming is unfounded, says Mark Messick, MD, a family medicine doctor at Duke Primary Care Timberlyne.
According to Messick, the body does supply extra blood to aid in digestion, but not enough blood to keep your arm and leg muscles from properly functioning. Your biggest danger related to eating and swimming is probably a minor cramp.
Not everyone can float
This is true! There are many factors that go into determining buoyancy. Muscle and bone are dense, which can make a swimmer float resistant. Fat is less dense and usually floats. How high you float on the surface of the water depends on the size of the swimmers lungs.
You don’t need to apply sunscreen if you’re just going swimming
This misconception is definitely false! Many of today’s sunscreens are waterproof and should stay on even if you go in the water. The sun’s harmful UV rays are actually intensified by the water and other rays are reflected off of the water onto your exposed skin just above the surface, increase the need to wear sunscreen. The fact is, your skin can be damaged more by not wearing sunscreen in the water, than sitting poolside.
Check back next week for some more swimming pool, fact or fiction. Until then, get started on your new swimming pool by contacting Dreamscapes Pools and Spas.
