Health problems inquiry....
 

Just wondering what health problems and specific situations may stop people from scuba diving?.. :rolleyes:
I mean – everybody knows that some pregnant women -divers continue their activity without any consequences. :)
Still – if a person has heart deficiency – can he get certification and dive? Or, people with epileptic syndrome (seldom convulsions and continence lost) - can they dive? at reasonable depths, of course… :eek:
I don’t see such inquiries on this forum, but I hope somebody has some answers…. :o
Thanks in advance.

Absolute Contraindications to scuba diving
 

Generally scuba agencies do not discourage scuba diving activities even if there are some health problems.

Here are some Absolute Contraindications to scuba diving :

• Disorders that may induce blackout or weakness. An epileptic seizure, insulin reaction, or acute heart dysrhythmia on land is usually merely annoying; under water, it could easily be fatal. Even if epilepsy is well controlled, hyperventilation or stress would favor seizures, and the effect of high pressure itself on epilepsy remains unknown. Even if diabetes is well controlled, exercise lowers the need for insulin; for such a person, any unexpected exertion needed for self or buddy rescue, would make the normal insulin dose excessive, thus favoring a reaction. A person subject to heart dysrhythmias may learn how to avoid them. Yet, an attack could be precipitated by anxiety, exertion, cold, or abnormal gas tensions, conditions not exactly known and not always avoidable in the water.
• Severely limited ability to cope with stress. Examples are heart failure, advanced chronic lung disease, and feebleness of any cause.
• History of pneumothorax, since it often repeats, or x-ray evidence of emphysematous blebs (weak areas of the lung), which could rupture and cause pneumothorax.
• Potential air trapping disorders such as active asthma, bronchial edema and mucus and spasm due to cigarettes or infection (e.g., up to ten days after a chest cold), and certain scars, cysts, or tumors, Any of these can cause lung rupture during ascent.
• Ruptured eardrums, or inability to equalize pressure. Pacific islanders sometimes break their eardrums on purpose to rid themselves of squeeze problems, but their diving isn’t for sport.
• Tendency to dizziness or disorientation, if more than mild.
• Acute illness or intoxication. These greatly increase the risk of narcosis, bends, and other deep trouble.
• Severe emotional instability. The danger to self and others is obvious.
• Definite fear of diving, or of a particular dive. Surgeons don’t do elective surgery under those conditions (extreme fear), for experience has shown they increase the patient's risk of dying. The same should apply to elective sports.


Ramiro Angelescu
----------------------
NAUI Instructor #43610
http://www.scubadiver.ro

Hi Sandy,

Yes, a number of health problems do, indeed, exclude people from diving. My colleague made a fine list of them above. I just want to add this:

Different countries have different laws, regulations, traditions. When working f.ex in Denmark - before admitting them into my courses - I will have all candidates examined by a doctor specialized in diving medicine to make sure they are in normal good health and do not suffer from any – in a diving context - critical condition.

However, in other – often remote – resort areas qualified, specialized doctors may not be available (I have seen local doctors issuing fit-for-diving certificates to epileptics). You should know that in this case I am – by PADI Standards as well as my other dive school agencies AND my professional liability insurance – obliged to have all candidates – without exception - fill in a comprehensive health form (and to explain properly, of course, why it is important for their safety that they answer honestly). If someone answers “yes” to any of these questions I MUST refer him to be examined by a specialist, and I cannot admit him into my class unless cleared by a specialist. Any other way I am in serious violation of standards and insurance requirements.

The main reason for this is not just to protect myself against a possible law suit, but first of all to protect someone against unwittingly diving with a health condition which definitely is or possible could be dangerously incompatible with scuba diving.

It is true that you may find dive schools or individual instructors who will see a commercial interest in not asking questions or allowing you to dive knowing that you suffer from a potentially dangerous health problem. But then you have the choice to look around for more responsible professionals.

I do know, of course, that some women continue diving during pregnancy, but you should know that all diving medical societies do advise against this.
You can find a detailed, qualified explanation of the problems involved in:
Edmonds, Lowry & Pennefather:
DIVING and SUBAQUATIC MEDICINE,
Butterworth-Heinemann, 1992, pp-66-69


Friendly regards, :)

Jorgen

hi folks i tried a test dive once in a pool on holiday and to my embarrasment i started to panic a bit..
if i had been my sons age as he was with me i know it wouldnt have bothered me at all.. seems age has an effect lol. Once i got my breathing under control i was more at ease.. i think its a "sport" you must do on a regular basis or have had a lot of practise to be able to leave it then go back.

i hope to learn more on both the main threads here castles and scuba..
:D

Hi Kyu,

Judging by your story there doesn’t seem to be any physical health problem to stop you from learning scuba diving.

Believe me: your nervous reaction to your first time under water is perfectly NORMAL :) - I see it almost every day when starting a new class or conducting try-diving in a pool – I see it in young people, older people, women, men, even sometimes in big, strong men. It’s a “psychology thing” which has to do with the fact that when you begin diving you have to get used to some very unfamiliar feelings and sensations. Technically the basic diving skills are simple and easy enough as soon as you feel comfortable, confident and able to relax and breathe normally under water.

Well, this is a gradual process and some people just need a little more time and a more “gentle” approach than some others. There is absolutely nothing wrong, abnormal, or shameful about that :) Learning diving is not a competition – you don’t have to be faster, stronger, better than anyone else. We all need to acquire the same academic knowledge and learn the same necessary, basic, practical skills. Then do a lot of easy dives and gain experience.

So, if you want to learn scuba – don’t worry too much: look for a kind instructor with patience and a good sense of psychology. He will know how to make you relax and to teach you and let you practice at a pace you are comfortable with. Then I am sure you will have the same experience as so many people before you: in a few training sessions tension and nervousness will fade away as you discover that you actually can do it, that it gets easier and easier, and you will find yourself gradually – like the rest of us – growing into a confident, competent diver.

Have fun and enjoy yourself!

Jorgen

(Oh, and if occasionally – during practice - you happen to lose balance and feel a little “clumsy”, don’t forget that your instructor was also a novice once… :))

Thanks Ocean Gypsy :D
i used to be a real water baby when i was in my youth but as always time and life can get in the way..
I have also been told i have asthma about 18 months ago, not that i have had any attacks and i take the inhalers as and when needed...and its not a problem in day to day life... as i said once i got used to the "newness" as you say i was ok. Just the dry mouth i could have sunk a few pints on getting out of the pool..

Maybe one day i will be able to take it up to a greater degree? My son really enjoyed it as i am sure i would have at his age.. Thanks for the encouragement and the kind words..

:D

Hi Kyu,

I am glad if I could answer you questions and help taking some of the ”drama” out of a very common nervous first-dive reaction which any good instructor would know how to deal with.

However, if you do in fact suffer from some form and degree of asthma you should know that this isn’t necessarily an absolute contraindication (I know instructors with mild asthma), but you would definitely need to be examined and cleared by a doctor knowledgeable in diving medicine before beginning a diving course (instructors aren’t qualified to make decisions regarding health conditions unless they are also doctors).

All my best :)

Jorgen