Is it OK to swim without earplugs?

Many people like swimming, and it is also an activity that is very beneficial to the body. It can not only strengthen the body, but also achieve the purpose of losing weight. But is it okay to swim without earplugs? It is very common to swim without earplugs, and it seems like there is no problem. In fact, this is a phenomenon that everyone ignores. If the water is not very deep, you don’t have to wear earplugs, but if the water is deep, you must wear them.

Do I need to wear earplugs when swimming?

Some people wear swimming earplugs when swimming, hoping that water will not flow into their ears while swimming. But have you ever wondered why water gets into your ears when you swim?

First we experimented with a bottle. Put a small bottle with the mouth downwards and press it quickly into the water. Because there is air in the bottle, water will not enter the bottle. If you tilt the bottle mouth and slowly put it into the water, the water pressure will cause the air to escape from the bottle, and the water will easily flow into the bottle. The same is true for human ears. There is air inside the ears. When swimming, the ears are buried in water and water will not enter the ears. If the ear is half in the water and half above the water surface, like a small bottle placed obliquely in the water, the air in the ear will be squeezed out and water will easily enter the ear.

Now you understand why water gets stuck in your ears when you swim. Next time you swim, be careful to avoid having half of your ear in the water and the other half above the water. Then you won’t have water stuck in your ears!

Can I swim without earplugs?

Generally speaking, it is not necessary in indoor swimming pools and some swimming pools with a water depth of no more than 5 meters.

The purpose of wearing earplugs is to protect the ears from being damaged by water pressure. The pressure in swimming pools and other places will not damage the eardrum.

Otitis media caused by swimming is caused by unclean water quality. If you have otitis media, you can go to the ENT department of the hospital and they can prescribe some anti-inflammatory drugs specifically for the ears. You can drop them in your ears and it will get better after a period of time.

Try to choose a swimming pool with good water quality for swimming. Cleaning your ears after swimming can effectively avoid otitis media.

Benefits of swimming

Breathing mainly relies on the lungs. The strength of lung function is determined by the strength of respiratory muscles. Exercise is one of the effective means to improve and increase lung capacity. It has been determined that when swimming, a person's chest is subjected to a pressure of 12 to 15 kilograms. In addition, the cold water stimulates the muscles to tighten, making breathing difficult. This forces the person to breathe hard and increase the depth of breathing so that the amount of oxygen inhaled can meet the body's needs. The average person's lung capacity is about 3200 ml, and the respiratory difference (the difference between chest expansion and contraction during maximum inhalation and maximum exhalation) is only 4-8 cm. The maximum oxygen uptake during strenuous exercise is 2.5-3 liters/minute, which is 10 times greater than that at rest. The lung capacity of swimmers can be as high as 4000-7000 ml, and the respiratory difference is 12-15 cm. The maximum oxygen uptake during strenuous exercise is 4.5-7.5 liters/minute, which is 20 times greater than that at rest. Swimming promotes the development of respiratory muscles, increases chest circumference, and lung capacity. It also opens more alveoli during inhalation, allowing for smoother ventilation, which is extremely beneficial to health.