B/P Disorder

[Iguana Don]

Docs,

I have a friend that was certified last summer, it has come to light from another friend that he suffers from B/P Disorder. Can you tell me what, if any, affects this might have on his physical and mental abilities to dive? And also what I should be on the lookout for. We have made several dives together and now this worries me, should I be concerned?

Thanks

ID

 

[ScubaBaby]

When you say B/P - are you talking about blood pressure?

Just out of interest (I am always in here reading to learn more!)

 

[BillP]

Hi Iguana Don:

Hmmm, B/P Disorder... (Doctors have to say "Hmmm" a lot, especially when they're guessing.) ScubaBaby thought about the more common meaning of the B/P abbreviation; I'm going to assume that you mean bipolar disorder. Sorry if this isn't relevant.

Scubadoc has a lot of info on depression and bipolar disorder at:

http://www.scuba-doc.com/psych.htm

and

http://www.scuba-doc.com/deprssn.html

HTH,

Bill

 

[King_Neptune]

The first thing I thought was "Bipolar" also, I don't know why, but silly me didn't even think about blood pressure.

But if it was Blood Pressure, wouldn't a good dive, as almost any positive exercise, be a benefit to such an individual? Or is there something about being at depth that should be of some concern for those with High Blood Pressure problems? Now of course, I am not talking about someone that is taking any number of blood pressure medications but rather someone that maybe knows they have the problem but are not taking any meds.

. . . .

ID, after my first thought of "Bipolar", can you guess what my second thought was? (dont answer that out loud) I had to re-read your post a few times to see if there was any hint as to whether that was what you were refering to. Especially when I read some of the signs of being "Bipolar" ....

* Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self confidence
* Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance
* Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
* Racing speech, impulsiveness, Poor judgment
* Reckless behavior

A little bit worry-some if you ask me. Correction - A LOT worry-some!

 

[Military Diver]

But if it was Blood Pressure, wouldn't a good dive, as almost any positive exercise, be a benefit to such an individual? Or is there something about being at depth that should be of some concern for those with High Blood Pressure problems? Now of course, I am not talking about someone that is taking any number of blood pressure medications but rather someone that maybe knows they have the problem but are not taking any meds.

I hadn't ever really heard anything towards this because the convo always ended at ... "Well, if you're taking Meds" ... But not everyone takes them for one reason or another.

 

[ScubaBaby]

I have recently asked about Blood pressure - BillP kindly gave me a few links !

Heres the thread

Some aspects arent relevant but the main mass sound me helpful.

 

[Iguana Don]

Blood pressure didn't cross my mind cause that is a no-brainer in my opinon.

Bipolar is what I am refering to.

ID

 

[kelpmermaid]

Didn't DAN magazine have a relatively recent article on this? You might want to check their website, but I think I remember seeing something along those lines...or at least about the effects of medication taken for a number of psychological disorders.

 

[ScubaBaby]

I checked out the DAN site and found these links for reports:

Report 1 (DAN)

And....

Report 2 (DAN)

Hope these are of some use.

 

[BillP]

Hey ScubaBaby:

Just as an aside, did you notice that those DAN articles were written by Scubadoc?