Asthma & Diving

[DivingFlyer]

Hello, if you have 2 cents...put it in.

Before I shelled close to $700 to get certified, I looked into the effects of Asthma and diving. I got a very kind reply "As long as it is not serious". Asthma is like a DUI....it follows you everywhere, you cant join the military if you have been diagnosed with it, even if you were diagnosed at a young age and currently experience very little complications.

I went in to get the medical signed off and the doc. jumped out of his seat when I informed that the Physical was for SCUBA Diving (right after he mentioned the Rectal exam). He said that the "sport was too dangerous to do with asthma" and he would have do several tests to sign me off (still waiting for my benefits to kick in at work, looking at $500+ cash for the tests).

I am 22, in good health, very athletic, and a certified pilot. If I run a mile or two I will probly have to hit the inhaler. But diving is nothing compared to running, as we all know.

I dont have a regular doc, so the question is, would it be crazy to not disclose my Asthma???

I could easily do this at a different clinic and get the thing signed off.

Thanks for any input guys,
Josh

 

[String]

Go and see a specialised diving doctor and if they say its not safe then accept it.

As for the comment its not like running a mile or 2 i disagree. You are sucking air sometimes through a sub optimal regulator, you can get quite out of breath underwater if dealing with currents or other tasks, an asthma attack there or even shortage of breath could quite easily be fatal. Ive run a few miles quite often and have had dives id class as more tiring.

Get a proper opinion of a properly qualified diving doctor and discuss it with them. I wouldnt try to hide it.

 

[DeputyDan]

You also need to know your asmatha triggers.

MY daughter dives with asmatha but knows what her asmatha triggers are and knows how she feels physically.

One of her keys is exercise in cold weather - which means no cold water diving EVER!

 

[Bretagne]

I think there is a test to see if sea water trigger your asthma or not.
The problem with asthma is that if it happens underwater, it would be complicated to come back safely, as one of the key of safe return to surface is proper exhaling.

 

[Ber Rabbit]

Contact a YMCA instructor. The YMCA has a protocol for asthmatic divers that includes a sheet that you take to your doctor to get filled out. Based on your body's response to the tests the sheet suggests the YMCA medical advisor will make a recommendation about whether or not it is "safe" for you to pursue training. Maybe one of our YMCA instructors will chime in here with more information about this program.
Ber

 

[DORSETBOY]

I heard of a diver who had a metal allergy, she didnt disclose her asthma and had an attack in a swimming pool during training.

deff disclose any conditions inc asthma when enrolling, if you're overseas for example you will void your medical insurance if you don't and depending where you are it can be damn expensive!

 

[chrisch]

Not much to add here except it sounds like you should be able to dive OK after the relevent medical(s). Some good advice above I feel.
Chris

 

[DivingFlyer]

I just want to make sure that there are no serious ramifications to diving with Asthma. I have participated in several Asthma studies that included identifing my triggers and documenting them on a daily bases for a year. I have been swimming since before I can remember (mostly in So. Cal. waters....never have I had a prob, even in COLD water.), and have had control of my Asthma for years. My Asthma is triggered by allergies and colds(I have inhaled more than enough salt water to know that it is not a trigger). I have already started my O/W class and need my medical in (3) days. Delaying the class will just cost me more money. I know my body very well, due to in part of the studies (which I got paid for... ). I just simply don't have the money (remember I have ALREADY spent $700) for the tests to get this done properly. As long as Albuteral does not conflict with Nitrogen or pressure there is no logical reason that I should undergo such tests (which I have had done hundreds of times) only to delay my class and cost me more money.

I understand that insurance may be voided due to me not disclosing such a disease, and I plan on getting the proper medical ASAP (when I recover financially from the $ I have already spent).

I am just trying to find the logic in all of this...concerning Asthma anyway....

Thanks guys....your opions are all welcome.....

Josh

 

[Aeolus]

Josh,

Asthma was considered an absolute contraindication for SCUBA not too long ago. The BIG question is how YOURS acts. You are probably the best gauge for that. I have asthma and had dived quite a bit in various locales. Since you stated that yours can be excercise induced, that MIGHT be enough to disqualify you for diving - I am certainly not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV - I did not even stay at a Holiday Inn Express. Before you go too much farther, you should contact a dive doctor for evaluation. It wouls also be a good idea to contact DAN (Diver Alert Network) for more info and perhaps a dive doctor. If you already have an asthma specialist, which I would imagine you do, try talking to him/her about it first. Keep in mind that quite often their first response is NO WAY. This is usually from doctors that have no idea of the requirements or protocols for evaluation for this sport, but NO is a safe answer to give. This is not a dig at them, it is just out of their area of expertise, so the pat answer is NO. IF you decide to proceed, I would suggest that you get a medical release to take with you ANYWHERE you plan to dive to show that the condition does not preclude your diving. I have created a form which has my medical history and the names and addresses of my doctors and is signed by my primary care physician.

Do not let all of this scare you off, but do look into the potential problems. Good Luck and Good Diving.

If you would like more info or discussion, you may send me a PM or e-mail. I hope that this helps you.

 

[darkpup]

Josh,

I hear what you're saying, but it's important to get the sign off from a Dr. for you to dive with Asthma. I developed allergy induced asthma upon returing from Saudi Arabia in 1991, and dive regularly. To insure I can continue diving safely, I get checked out by my Dr. every 6 months to insure my Asthma is under control and good to go.

You state that you're a certified pilot. Do you fly if there's a chance one of the components on the aircraft may be out of the specified tolerance level? Or do you insure the component is working properly before flying?

If you insure the aircraft is good to go before flying, why would you then dive before knowing that your body is safe to dive? It only takes 4' to embolize.

Keep in mind that you're not the only person that your asthma can impact while diving. By not getting the sign off from the Dr., you're putting the instructor and other students at risk. Taking a "Don't ask, Don't tell" attitude toward concealing your chronic disease from your team mates and instructor could cause more problems than it's worth, while putting your life and the lives of your team mates at greater risk.

In the end, the chances are that you won't have any problems diving without getting checked out by your Dr., but there is a chance that an unknown problem does exist. I would strongly suggest you find a Dr. that specializes in or has a strong understanding of dive medicine. My current Dr. volunteers his time to DAN, and specializes in dive and sports medicine. It really makes the whole process of getting checked out go much smoother.

Diving is an incredible experience, and I hope the above doesn't scare you off.

~ Jason

I just want to make sure that there are no serious ramifications to diving with Asthma. I have participated in several Asthma studies that included identifing my triggers and documenting them on a daily bases for a year. I have been swimming since before I can remember (mostly in So. Cal. waters....never have I had a prob, even in COLD water.), and have had control of my Asthma for years. My Asthma is triggered by allergies and colds(I have inhaled more than enough salt water to know that it is not a trigger). I have already started my O/W class and need my medical in (3) days. Delaying the class will just cost me more money. I know my body very well, due to in part of the studies (which I got paid for... ). I just simply don't have the money (remember I have ALREADY spent $700) for the tests to get this done properly. As long as Albuteral does not conflict with Nitrogen or pressure there is no logical reason that I should undergo such tests (which I have had done hundreds of times) only to delay my class and cost me more money.

I understand that insurance may be voided due to me not disclosing such a disease, and I plan on getting the proper medical ASAP (when I recover financially from the $ I have already spent).

I am just trying to find the logic in all of this...concerning Asthma anyway....

Thanks guys....your opions are all welcome.....

Josh