Tips from divers with mild asthma?

[Youssef]

Hello!

I’m looking for some tips from divers with mild asthma about things they do or equipment they use to make their time underwater more enjoyable. For example do you use an inhaler preemptively before diving? Are there special regulators that make breathing in easier? Any specific scenarios that you’ve found more likely to trigger your asthma?


Not looking for medical advice and will ask a doctor before diving but for context: I very occasionally get mild asthma but this only occurs under very stressful conditions: namely exerting lots of effort while suffering from a respiratory infection and intense exercise outdoors during winter. I have an inhaler but haven’t used it in months.

Never had an issue diving in the Red Sea but I recently moved to the UK so am concerned about the colder weather and unfamiliar environment if cleared by the GP to dive here, and what I can do to make myself more comfortable.

 

[Wallowa]

Hello!

I’m looking for some tips from divers with mild asthma about things they do or equipment they use to make their time underwater more enjoyable. For example do you use an inhaler preemptively before diving? Are there special regulators that make breathing in easier? Any specific scenarios that you’ve found more likely to trigger your asthma?


Not looking for medical advice and will ask a doctor before diving but for context: I very occasionally get mild asthma but this only occurs under very stressful conditions: namely exerting lots of effort while suffering from a respiratory infection and intense exercise outdoors during winter. I have an inhaler but haven’t used it in months.

Never had an issue diving in the Red Sea but I recently moved to the UK so am concerned about the colder weather and unfamiliar environment if cleared by the GP to dive here, and what I can do to make myself more comfortable.

No medical advice....you already know that cold, dry air and the stress you mentioned can cause an asthmatic to trap air on ascent...the question as a diver, and only you can answer it, is are you willing to assume that risk? We hear call level of risk a "roll of the dice"; if it comes up snake eyes, you lose everything. Strictly as a fellow diver remember if you embolize your fellow divers will also pay a price.

Diving is always about assumption of risk...good luck and I am sure you can find a diving medicine doctor in UK.

PS...Our Dive Manual and Standards list asthma as an "absolute contraindication" for diving. Asthma by definition is 'air trapping' and the degree of air trapping may be a moot point; like being a 'little bit pregnant' overexpansion forcing an AGE is the risk. It only takes one.

 

[sea_ledford]

No, there is no equipment that will make diving easier with asthma. I know you don't want medical advise, but you should definitely get checked by a diving physician though. Whether you can dive will depend on the type of asthma you have.

 

[lowwall]

I very occasionally get mild asthma but this only occurs under very stressful conditions: namely exerting lots of effort while suffering from a respiratory infection and intense exercise outdoors during winter.

So it is triggered by cold and exercise stress. Guess what you'll be facing in a whole range of possible scenarios when diving in the UK?

Your conversation really needs to start with a diving physician.

 

[happy-diver]

The asthmatics I have dived with use the don't ask don't tell rule, so I can't give you numbers
as they're implementing the SGO rule, So Go Diving
combined with the SAC rule don't think about it and their comfort increases like the SAC rate

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

I was cleared to dive all those years ago with very mild asthma. The only time it triggers is after days of cold dry air. Being up north triggers it more than where I live in the south. I don't worry about it while diving. But that's just me and my diving in warm water. When I dive and I come out of the water shivering, in need of hot tea, hot shower, warm clothes, it doesn't bother me. But, heading to bed at night in a cold room does.

 

[Youssef]

So it is triggered by cold and exercise stress. Guess what you'll be facing in a whole range of possible scenarios when diving in the UK?

Your conversation really needs to start with a diving physician.

Likely just the cold (have had an exercise stress test done indoors with no issue and neither is running 10k+ at race pace outdoors back in Egypt temperatures) but yes that is why I’m concerned about diving in the UK and yes I will be seeking a specialist physician.

 

[Youssef]

PS...Our Dive Manual and Standards list asthma as an "absolute contraindication" for diving. Asthma by definition is 'air trapping' and the degree of air trapping may be a moot point; like being a 'little bit pregnant' overexpansion forcing an AGE is the risk. It only takes one.

Which dive manual is that? Both DAN and the UK diving medicine committee agree it is okay to dive with depending on individual circumstances.


Edit: and just to clarify because I don’t want to seem defensive/against medical advice, I have been cleared to dive by a respiratory doctor (what do you call those?) back home and it’s mainly the change to a cooler temperature I’m concerned about.

 

[Wallowa]

Which dive manual is that? Both DAN and the UK diving medicine committee agree it is okay to dive with depending on individual circumstances.

No belly bumping from me....it sounds like you have made a decision to dive with the risk of asthma and a possible AGE...your choice, run with it and good luck...

DSO

 

[Youssef]

No belly bumping from me....it sounds like you have made a decision to dive with the risk of asthma and a possible AGE...your choice, run with it and good luck...

DSO

That was meant as an actual question not a dismissal. I am curious what other organisations have to say about it (regardless of whether or not it affects my own decision)