carolrose
Contributor
Ok, the title of this thread sounds a little bizarre, but bear with me for a minute. Anyone that has lived with asthma for a long time has probably learned some skills related to breathing. I know I've learned not to panic if I can't breathe, but to think and focus and do what I have to do to get through it. I've learned that even when I think I 'can't' breathe, I actually can breathe a little, and if I'm calm and cool about it I'll be fine and will be back to normal soon enough. If I freak out, I'm wasting the air I do have and it feels 10x worse. After being without meds for various reasons at one time or another, I've learned how to make the most of things when I'm not operating at full lung capacity, and lots of little ways of breathing etc to make the most of whatever capacity I have at any given time. Now I realize that certain types of asthma are bad for diving, but for others who say don't have attacks, aren't triggered by exercise, cold, stress,etc, couldn't dealing with breathing issues actually help you? Not that you'd want asthma or anything, but I could see how some of the skills I've learned to deal with that could benefit me, even if it was just in not freaking out if I had air issues etc. I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions about this, and if anyone who'd done some diving with asthma has found any of your asthma coping techniques to be helpful underwater.
Carol
Carol
