Healthy Lungs! Last post I talked about staying healthy this winter and how swimming can help. Today I want to talk specifically about kids lungs. There seems to be a lot of asthma out there today. More than when we were kids. Is it because kids are more sedantary? More allergies leading to asthma?

There has been some concern about the chloramines in pools causing irritation in the lungs of asthmatics. However it has been my experience to the contrary. When I swam on the National Team, there was an unusual amount of swimmers on the team who had asthma. Why? Because their Doctors recommended swimming to strengthen their lungs. Tom Dolan, an Olympic Gold Medalist had one of the worst cases of asthma I'd ever seen. The team physician told him swimming saved his life.

Another story of swimming helping strengthen lungs. One of my best friends, had her daughter at only 28 weeks gestation. She was just over 2 lbs at birth. But, she was a fighter and survived. Because she was born so early, she had weak lungs, and if she got sick, it often led to pneumonia. The Doctor told her to start swim lessons. Her lungs grew stronger. But what really made a difference was when she started swim team when she was older. No more winters with the albuterol, inhalers and nebulizers. She rarely got sick let alone had pneumonia. It was thanks to swimming that she has grown so strong in her lungs.

So whether you child has asthma or not, swimming can make your lungs stronger and therefore making them healthier!

Keep this in mind this winter when the inevitable cold virus comes knocking on your door. Swimming will help make the lungs stronger and clear out their noses.

Is it H1N1?

So all 4 of my kids had the H1N1 a few weeks ago. But how did I know it was the old swine flu? Well my Dr. told me it starts with a cough and then on to the high fever for a few days and could be accompanied with vomiting or "the runs". Each of my kids got one of those. But most importantly, the extreme soreness in the muscles after the fever is gone.

When my sturdy 90lb 8 year old son fell out of bed crying on the 4th day, he said he couldn't move, his legs and arms hurt so much. This is coming from a kid who dances, swims, skis and does triathlons. So for him to experience this kind of muscle soreness was very unusual. But, my pediatrician said the H1N1 is manifesting itself with this extreme soreness after the fever.

The flu also had the exact same trajectory with each kid. Slowly picking them off from oldest to youngest. Luckily I got some Tamiflu (an anti-viral drug) , for the younger 2 and they had milder cases.

Phew, we survived. But what about those of you who want the vaccine but can't get it or just don't want the vaccine? Do you stay inside all winter? You already know about the coughing in your elbow and washing your hands like crazy. But did you know that swimming is one of the safest things to do this winter? Exercising in warm water keeps your immune system strong. Chlorine kills germs! Although we use small amounts of chlorine, our Diotenatious Earth filters, UV light and salt water team up to have an extremely clean environment for our children. Sorry viruses, this environment is just not for you!

That being said, swimming in our 90 degree pool comes in real handy on those cold rainy days where the kids need to get out and run around. We all know that feeling, "should I take them to Sports Basement to run around"? "the mall"? Lots of families swim twice a week in the winter to make sure their kids are getting enough exercise. This in turn keeps their lungs strong through the winter....but that my friends is another post!