extract yourself from a situation,” Levine notes.
Is swimming safe for you?
Ischemic heart disease affects about 20 million people in the United States, with the highest incidence among men aged 60 and up — but the initial stage begins at age 20, says Dr. Richard C. Becker. He is an American Heart Association national volunteer expert and director of the University of Cincinnati Heart, Lung & Vascular Institute.
Cardiac arrest — the sudden loss of heart function — is among the most common causes of death for someone with this disease.
Someone with ischemic heart disease, including a prior heart attack, stent placement or coronary bypass surgery, should undergo an evaluation before embarking on an exercise program, Becker advises.
“With recommendations and guidance from a health care provider for those with known heart disease, swimming is recognized as an excellent means of low-impact, moderate-intensity exercise,” Becker says.
Also, Levine adds, exercise is one of the best ways you can prevent and reduce the risks of future cardiovascular disease.
“Any level of exercise does increase your risk briefly while you’re doing it for that short period of time, but there are a couple of important things to point out,” Levine says. “The first is that regular physical activity prevents you from getting into trouble during exercise, so it’s really important that you establish a regular physical activity pattern.”
For people with seizure disorders, even soaking in a tub carries risks, according to study co-author Dr. Cody Dunne, an emergency resident physician at the University of Calgary, and colleagues. “Drowning in bathtubs is common among those with seizure disorders, as well as most other pre-existing medical conditions,” the study authors wrote.
People with seizure disorders are often advised to take showers instead of baths, French says, and can use a special device in the shower that would turn off the water in case of a fall to help prevent a drowning in shallow water.
For recreating in water, French says she advises patients with seizure disorders not to swim alone. If they do swim, it should be with