Heart Conditions, Medications and Swimming Safety

Some heart conditions and some medicines raise the risk of drowning, because they can affect your heart rhythm, balance, alertness or judgment in the water. CDC advises extra precautions for heart conditions and says to avoid swimming if a medicine impairs your balance, coordination or judgment. Talk with your doctor about which water activities are right for you, and never swim alone.

This page explains what the guidance says and what to ask. It is not medical advice, and it can't tell you whether swimming is safe for you. Your doctor can.

Why some conditions change water risk

CDC reports that heart conditions are associated with a higher risk of drowning (opens in a new tab), and its prevention advice is to take extra precaution around water if you or a family member has conditions that can increase drowning risk, like heart conditions (opens in a new tab).

Two water-specific situations are worth knowing about:

Cold water. The National Weather Service warns that cold water can cause a sudden spike in heart rate and blood pressure, which can cause heart failure and stroke for vulnerable people (opens in a new tab). The National Center for Cold Water Safety adds that the stress on the heart can also cause abnormal heart rhythms that could lead to sudden cardiac arrest (opens in a new tab). If you have a heart condition, ask before any cold plunge or early-season swim. See polar plunge safety.

Long QT syndrome. This is a heart rhythm condition that is often inherited (opens in a new tab), according to the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Its listed symptoms include drowning or near drowning, which may be due to fainting while swimming (opens in a new tab). Researchers describe swimming as a genotype-specific trigger in long QT syndrome type 1 (opens in a new tab). NHLBI notes that a doctor may ask people with the condition to avoid things that can affect heart rhythm, such as swimming and other vigorous activity.

Medicines that affect balance or alertness

CDC's advice is direct: avoid swimming if you take medications that impair your balance, coordination or judgment (opens in a new tab). It notes that several medicines can have these effects, such as those used for anxiety and other mental health conditions.

Other sources add:

• The Red Cross says don't use alcohol or drugs, including certain prescription medications, before or while swimming, diving or supervising swimmers (opens in a new tab).
• The National Institute on Aging says some medicines cause dizziness or confusion, that the more medications you take, the more likely you are to fall (opens in a new tab), and that you should tell your doctor or pharmacist if a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy.
• NHLBI notes that some antibiotics, antidepressants and antihistamines (opens in a new tab) can affect the heart's ion channels and are among the causes of acquired long QT syndrome.

Don't stop or change a medicine on your own. Instead, plan your water activities around it with your doctor's or pharmacist's help.

Questions to ask your doctor

Bring your full medicine list, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements, and ask:

• Is swimming safe for me? Are there activities I should avoid, like diving, hard laps, cold water or hot tubs?
• Can any of my medicines make me dizzy, drowsy or unsteady, or affect my heart rhythm?
• Is there a time of day when it's safer for me to swim, based on when I take my medicines?
• Should I be checked for an inherited heart rhythm condition, given my family history?
• What warning signs should make me get out of the water right away?

For parents: if your child has fainted during exercise or swimming, or there is a family history of sudden unexplained death, tell your child's doctor before the next swim season.

Supervision and buddy rules

Whatever your doctor says, these habits lower risk for everyone:

• Never swim alone. NCHPAD's rule: no matter how great your swimming skills are, never swim alone (opens in a new tab).
• Swim where a lifeguard is on duty, and tell them about your condition if you're comfortable doing so.
• Know your limitations. The Red Cross lists physical fitness and medical conditions (opens in a new tab) among the things to know before you swim.
• Wear a life jacket on boats and in open water. CDC says life jackets reduce drowning risk for people of all ages and swimming abilities (opens in a new tab).
• Make sure your buddy knows CPR. Find a class in where to learn CPR.

Thinking about a hot tub? See hot tub and spa safety. Older adults can find more in water safety for older adults, and people with seizures in water safety with epilepsy or seizures.

What you can do today

1. Make your medicine list, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
2. Book or note the question for your next doctor visit: "Is swimming safe for me, and is there anything I should avoid?"
3. Write down your family history of fainting, seizures, drowning or sudden death, and share it with your doctor.
4. Pick a swim buddy and a lifeguarded place for your next swim.
5. Learn CPR with your buddy or a family member.