Cardiologist said no

[BAMA6977]

Very timely for me. Answers questions I was going to post. Thanks so much to all especially Dr. Ebersole.

 

[chillyinCanada]

On the other hand, if one abstains from diving, there is a chance one will live forever.

What would be the point?

 

[caruso]

What would be the point?

Think about what would happen with your investments.

 

[Conejita]

Sorry for being late to the party here. First of all, you should get medical advice regarding diving from a physician who understands diving physiology and who has had the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate your personal history, speak with you, examine you, and review your test results. Take any other advice with a grain of salt -- and that includes mine as all I know is what you have mentioned in this thread.

I will speak in sweeping generalities. Whether or not to dive with underlying coronary artery disease is based on several factors -- exercise capacity, heart muscle function, evidence of a limitation of blood supply to your heart, and a personal risk/benefit decision by the diver. Again, IN GENERAL, if someone has a history of heart disease requiring stents or bypass surgery they can dive recreationally if they have good exercise tolerance (defined as reaching 13 METS on treadmill testing or the ability to sustain 6.5 METS for 20-25 minutes), have normal heart muscle function (left ventricular ejection fraction on echocardiography of > 50%), and no evidence of limitation to blood flow or significant exercise induced rhythm disturbances on exercise testing (I would not consider your two presumably PVCs on stress testing as significant). This having been said, divers with coronary artery disease are at an increased risk of heart attach and even death while scuba diving compared to the general population but this increase risk is quite small if the above criteria are met.

I would recommend you contact Divers Alert Network and ask for a referral to a diving physician in your area, preferably a cardiologist with knowledge of diving, and let that physician go over your individual case in detail. Scuba diving is a wonderful sport and, if you can do it safely, I would welcome you to our "club" with open arms. However, there is nothing down there worth dying for so see a diving physician and have a complete evaluation followed by a frank discussion.

Just my 2 cents.

Douglas Ebersole, MD
Interventional Cardiology, Watson Clinic LLP
Director, Structural Heart Program Lakeland Regional Health
Cardiology Consultant, Divers Alert Network
IANTD and TDI CCR Trimix Instructor

Hello Doug, I am 76 year female divemaster who on an annual exam was found to have some PVCs and was referred for further tests. I was found to have a mild LVDD, a calcium score of 206, and an abdominal aorta aneurysm 3.6cm. I have no symptoms and do moderate walking 2 miles a day and had started jogging 1 mile with no SOB. I also have three drive trips planned for 2025. I think the next step will be to see a local cardiologist ( no dive specialists whereI live in Rapid City). Maybe get a stress test. I did start pravastatin after the calcium score dx. I am 5foot 1inch 108 pounds, still pretty active. Have also sent question online to Dan but may call them. Any advice is appreciated on next moves to take. Feeling very bummed out about possibility of stopping diving.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

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