Salt water pools and cardiac health

[139Rose]

Does anyone know if there is evidence for or against people with cardiac issues (specifically heart failure) using salt water pools? We’re getting our pool remodeled and considering converting to salt, but have a family member with heart failure who would be a frequent user of the pool.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Rose,

The salt level in a saltwater pool is about what is in your tears. It is not like the ocean.

I can't think of any reason that a saltwater pool would be bad for someone cardiac issue or not.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[okjacoby]

I have never heard of any such evidence of salt water pool being dangerous for any heart conditions. Every person with heart failure that has soaked a sore foot or scraped leg in their metric tons of epsom salt would be dead. That and plenty of patients with heart failure receive IV saline during hospitalizations.

 

[kul]

I recommend speaking with a doctor. While it seems safe to us, we are not physicians and I hesitate to give medical advice.

 

[JamesW]

Heart failure is a somewhat generic term.

Unless they are going to be drinking the water, I don't know how it would be any different than a non-salt pool.

Even pools that are not using a salt system build up salt over time, so all pools are salt pools to some degree.

If sodium can be absorbed through the skin and the person is on a sodium restriction, then that might be an issue, but you would need to consult a doctor to determine if that is a legitimate concern.

In any case, as noted, only a doctor can properly advise you or your relatives about health related issues.

 

[JamesW]

Make sure to supervise children, elderly people and others who might have problems so that they are not swimming alone if they need assistance.

 

[Newdude]

Swimming being a low impact exercise comes highly recommended for those who can no longer do more strenuous exercise.

I live at the beach (with real salt water, not the 10% pool kind) and the only thing the Dr's have ever been concerned about is if the patient is steady on their feet enough to use the pool stairs or walk on the sand. Nobody has ever cared about the type of water.

*assuming no external pacemakers, surgery wounds still healing or any other extenuating circumstances that need medical clearance to be wet.

 

[dwendell]

Late to see this, but in case it helps — I just had a CRT-D (a combination pacemaker and defibrillator) installed a month ago. I am learning all sorts of dos and don’ts. In this case, a chlorine generator on a pool can pose a risk to people with a pacemaker or defibrillator. It is related to potential for low-level stray currents from the ionizer. There are journal articles on this. It is not common but has been documented. The easiest solution for maximum safety is to turn the chlorine generator off while in the pool. That is what I plan to do. Pretty easy solution.

 

[PoolStored]

Swimming pool saline chlorination units and implantable cardiac devices: A source for potentially fatal electromagnetic interference - PMC

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[JamesW]

In this case, a chlorine generator on a pool can pose a risk to people with a pacemaker or defibrillator. It is related to potential for low-level stray currents from the ionizer. There are journal articles on this. It is not common but has been documented.

In my opinion, the articles are weak speculation only and not sufficient to support the hypothesis that the SWG can cause any issues with pacemakers or defibrillators.

If you have articles that support your hypothesis, then please present the links for review.

 

[JamesW]

Swimming pool saline chlorination units and implantable cardiac devices: A source for potentially fatal electromagnetic interference - PMC

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

That cites examples of 2 people where the cause was speculated as being related to the SWG with no significant proof given.

While these cases cannot be proven to be directly related to the saline chlorination units, the mechanistic rationale and the unlikelihood that a single patient had separate EMI events in 2 separate saline pools supports causality. Electrolytic cells utilize direct current, which would not produce classic AC EMI patterns. However, the power supplies for these systems commonly use switch mode power supplies that can generate rectified output at frequencies similar to the AC source.

Salt water does conduct AC current better than non salt water and SWGs use DC voltage.

Also, many pools have stray AC currents that are not related to SWGs.

A case study of two people and their unscientific anecdotes is basically worthless and nothing more than baseless speculation.

 

[JamesW]

Neutral to earth ground current is common due to how the neutral is tied to earth ground.

Most pools probably have some neutral-to-Earth AC current traveling through them through the water and bonding grid.

We have several reports of pools with stray current.

Higher salinity will increase any AC current flowing through the water because the resistance is lower.

People with pacemakers or defibrillators should probably check for stray AC current before using a pool.

However, there is no reason to identify the SWG as the cause of the AC current traveling through the water.

 

[Chris_Porter]

Saltwater pools are usually safe, but for someone with heart failure, it’s a good idea to check with their doctor first.

 

[JamesW]

Saltwater pools are usually safe, but for someone with heart failure, it’s a good idea to check with their doctor first.

Probably true of any physical activity.

There is nothing about a saltwater pool that would create an increased risk over a non-saltwater pool.

Many non-SWG pools have levels of salt above 1,000 ppm and 2,000 ppm.

 

[Chris_Porter]

Probably true of any physical activity.

There is nothing about a saltwater pool that would create an increased risk over a non-saltwater pool.

Many non-SWG pools have levels of salt above 1,000 ppm and 2,000 ppm.

Yes. That‘s true.