Q. What does diving into a pool do to my sinuses?

A. Swimmers and divers may get severe sinus attacks following diving into a pool because of the many underlying problems associated with nasal drainage.

Sinus attacks may be a result of one of the following:

• When you deep-dive, you experience changes in air pressure. The chlorinated water in the pool forces itself against your body, causing the pressure in your nose and sinus cavities to increase. This pressure increase may result in you experiencing facial pains as well as ear aches and blockages.
• When you dive into a pool, massive amounts of water beat against the nose walls, forcing itself into the sinuses through the ostium. As ostium tubes are too narrow to transport all the water into the sinus cavities, your sinus linings become irritated and swollen which may result in the mucus membranes increasing their mucus production "post nasal drip" or even resulting in a sinus infection.

Your Eustachian tube which is located between your nose and ears strives to equalize these pressure changes so that they won't damage your delicate ear structures and nasal sinuses, however when one is underwater, the Eustachian tube cannot pull in the air it needs to equalize this pressure-change causing one to experience problems.

Unfortunately, if activities that cause pressure changes such as diving are practiced frequently, they could cause swelling of the sinus membranes and lead to inflammation of the sinus cavities (causing sinusitis), as well as affect the middle ears ability to help a person remain balanced and stable.

Changing swimming habits may be helpful for regular swimmers and divers. One should try to avoid diving, jumping, or swimming underwater unless you hold your nose or use nose protectors.