After effects of smoking??

[bluebanded goby]

> most CO2 retainer that I saw have their pulse ox somewhere from high 80% to low 90%.

Thanks, ssra30. I smoked for nearly 15 years as a young adult, but quit 15 years ago. A few years ago I think I registered a 93% on a pulse oximeter, which seemed pretty low. However, I've been tested a couple of times lately and have registered 97-98%. I actually freedive much more than I scuba dive, and have relatively mild sleep apnea, so I'm probably somewhat acclimatized to more CO2 than average ...

 

[ssra30]

bluebanded goby, If you are concerned, one easy way to check about CO2 retention is to get an arterial blood gas and you can see if partial pressure of CO2 is abnormally high or not. It is a simple test that can be done in any hospital, only that they need to draw blood from your artery so it is a bit more uncomfortable than a regular blood test. However, as I said, most people with sleep apnea or COPD who are CO2 retainer, are generally not healthy, needs CPAP machine at night, use inhalers and various medication and I doubt that they can tolerate much exercise at all. If you have good exercise tolerance and see your MD for your routine check up etc, I doubt that you have to worry. Better yet, next time you see your doctor, you can ask your doctor about it.
Some routine screening blood test such as bicarb level, while not a definite test may hint that there might or might not be a problem.

 

[Saturation]

bluebanded goby once bubbled...
Interesting discussion of CO2 retention. A question to Saturation: If someone is a CO2 retainer, would this usually show up in a low score on a pulse oximeter?

HI BBG:

The pulse oximeter only indirectly measures blood 02 through the saturation of hemoglobin. So anemic persons would also show a reduced pulse oximetry measurement.

Generally, clinical people will not worry about measurements above 92%, but in normal people, breathing room air, the value is 98-100%.

Indirectly, you could make an assumption of the lung status of a long term smoker by checking an oximeter reading breathing room air AFTER a 24 hour smoke free interval [CO half life, ~ 5 hr]

 

[Saturation]

Braunbehrens once bubbled...
Note that there is some anecdotal evidence that smoking actually prevents dcs and allows people to hold their breath longer.

None of this has ever been studied, and it doesn't make much logical sense, but it has been regarded as true by 3rd world divers as well as some early commercial divers.

I was talking to one commercial diver, and he told me that after coming up from a dive they'd stick a cigarrette in his mouth, and asked him if he could taste it. If he could, it was assumed he wasn't bent.

Don't take this as a reason to smoke or even a reason not to quit, I just thought it was an interesting tidbit to throw into the conversation. Obviously smoking is very bad for you, as those of us who have quit can attest (we feel much better).

Doc is right in that not all people are affected the same way. My great-grandmother chainsmoked until the day she died, at the ripe old age of 105, and she was full of pss and vinegar until the end (or so I'm told). On the other hand I knew a guy who just keeled over at 45, I suspect from smoking since he looked otherwise healthy and was a heavy smoker. YMMV.

Hi Braunbehrens:

Its very possible, alas many commerical divers in the past smoked heavily.

Its hard to say if smoking or its their diving experience that provides the tolerance, as with frequent diving one builds up a resistance to DCI _and_ a tolerance to c02 build up as deep depth increases the work of breathing from breathing the increased density of gases.

 

[Saturation]

bluebanded goby once bubbled...
> most CO2 retainer that I saw have their pulse ox somewhere from high 80% to low 90%.

Thanks, ssra30. I smoked for nearly 15 years as a young adult, but quit 15 years ago. A few years ago I think I registered a 93% on a pulse oximeter, which seemed pretty low. However, I've been tested a couple of times lately and have registered 97-98%. I actually freedive much more than I scuba dive, and have relatively mild sleep apnea, so I'm probably somewhat acclimatized to more CO2 than average ...

Increased physical activity can utilized the more than 2/3rd of lung capacity left dormant in resting breathing, and probably spared from damage during smoking.

Sleep apnea is a concern only while sleeping and of concern only if one has true apenic spells during sleep and are awaken continously at night. Patient's often feel chronically fatigued as they seldom sleep well.

Smokers who can exercise well may opt for an optional baseline set of chest x-rays and a routine pulmonary function test to set the stage for comparion against any changes in the future. It can be done during a routine doc visit but is not necessary.

A low pulse oximeter for an active smoker could also represent that carbon monoxide has bound hemoglobin, a temporary condition which resolves in 24 hours. How much CO exists depends on how much has been smoked before the measurement. If the oximetry improves overnight, i.e., 5-8 hours of sleep without smoking, its likely CO.

 

[JustinW]

There are pictures of cyclists in the french alps riding in the tour de france that would smoke before their rides, something about an old theory that smoking opens up the lungs? I dunno, but that was the theory they used to use.

 

[Saturation]

There are no known health benefits to smoking.

Nicotine is a mild stimulant and smokers initially smoke for the buzz it provides or to look cool. Later, they become addicted to nicotine and thus smoke to feed the habit. Tar contains most of the damaging substances, and that includes the effect of breathing hot atomized gases too. The taste of the tar may also lure people into smoking.

Damage is mostly caused by smoke and is dose related, the more you smoke the greater the damage.

The body will repair damage it sustains, when damage exceeds repair, the damage maybe permanent.

Because the substances circulate in the body, the damage isn't limited to the lungs. Smoking is associated with bladder cancer and hardening of the arteries.

 

[Braunbehrens]

Saturation once bubbled...
There are no known health benefits to smoking.

Nicotine is a mild stimulant and smokers initially smoke for the buzz it provides or to look cool. Later, they become addicted to nicotine and thus smoke to feed the habit. Tar contains most of the damaging substances, and that includes the effect of breathing hot atomized gases too. The taste of the tar may also lure people into smoking.

Damage is mostly caused by smoke and is dose related, the more you smoke the greater the damage.

The body will repair damage it sustains, when damage exceeds repair, the damage maybe permanent.

Because the substances circulate in the body, the damage isn't limited to the lungs. Smoking is associated with bladder cancer and hardening of the arteries.

You are right of course, but there are two problems. First, we don't know everything about the human body, and second, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence about "benefits" of smoking among divers.

I still agree with you about the harmful effects of smoking, and I wouldn't advocate anyone to smoke, but that doesn't mean there are not ALSO some effects that we are simply unaware of.

For example, nicotine does help with digestion, IIRC. It would be downright stupid to smoke because one has stomach problems, but at the same time we shouldn't deny that there are other effects, known and unknown attributed to smoking.

Just my opinion of course...and I'd also like to say that this falls squarely into the realm of discussions that are purely theoretical. For all practical applications smoking is bad for you, so don't do it.

 

[ingreevox]

WHERE DOES SOMEONE GO TO ASK ALL THESE SCUBA RELATED QUESTIONS, AND GET PERSONAL ANSWERS?
SPORTS MEDICINE?
SCUBA IS NOT SEEN ON MANY DOCTORS SHINGLES.

 

[Saturation]

ingreevox once bubbled...
WHERE DOES SOMEONE GO TO ASK ALL THESE SCUBA RELATED QUESTIONS, AND GET PERSONAL ANSWERS?
SPORTS MEDICINE?
SCUBA IS NOT SEEN ON MANY DOCTORS SHINGLES.

Call DAN. Many doctors practicing diving medicine are on their referral list. Most docs are well versed with issues related to everday diver problems.

If you are bent, you need a physician specifically trained for hyperbaric medicine. They are usually linked closely to a chamber, so where there is a chamber, s/he isn't far away.

For research and technical diving, doctor or scientist members of UHMS or SPUMS, may be able to help you better.

Your local diveshop should know a few too, as they may require clearance from these docs for some candidates to enter training.