jaytee0471
New
I went to my doctor to get my release form signed for the open water dives to complete my PADI open water certification and my doctor tells me that he advises all his patients who want to dive to get a cardiac ultrasound even if, like me, they have no medical problems. He says he is concerned that some patients may have a condition called atrial septal defect (ASD) that could put them at higher risk for dive injuries. ASD is a hole between the upper chambers of the heart through which blood or nitrogen bubbles can pass. I researched ASD and found that about 25% of the population has it. Normally I would just go and get the test but I have a high deductible health plan. So the $600 is out of my pocket. Here is a link with some more information on ASD and other heart problems that can interfere with diving: www.cachnet.org/learning_scuba.html
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