Marcdivesin
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CAN SOMEONE WITH A MILD COPD ( CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE) BE ABLE TO SCUBA DIVE?
COPD
- Thread starter Marcdivesin
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Radoo
Registered
From the British Thoracic Society guidelines:
“COPD carries a theoretical increased risk of barotrauma and reduced exercise tolerance. Subjects will probably be advised against diving on the basis of reduced pulmonary function (FEV1 <80% predicted)”
“COPD carries a theoretical increased risk of barotrauma and reduced exercise tolerance. Subjects will probably be advised against diving on the basis of reduced pulmonary function (FEV1 <80% predicted)”
SEE A DOC SPECIALIZED IN DIVING
JackOfDiamonds
Jewish Space Laser Operator
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR, MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE NOT MEDICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS
fmerkel
Contributor
Most medically trained professionals aren't actually competent to answer that question.....so, they'll just say NO!
Use to be thought no one with asthma should dive, ever. Now it's mostly accepted that if you have well controlled asthma, with acceptable peak flow characteristics when you are 'well' it's possible.
COPD is an entirely different disease process than asthma and anyone with known degree of COPD wanting to dive should have a good workup and long discussion with a diving ENT.
Having said that, LOTS of people have smoked, and dive. Lots of people DO smoke and dive. Smoking is THE major cause of COPD, and a whole mess of other health problems. So, lots of people are getting away with some degree of COPD and diving. What's ACTUALLY safe is kind of an educated guess. The only thing this forum might be good for is helping locate an appropriate physician.
Suggest you call DAN. It would be a good shortcut.
This is by Neil Hampson MD of the Virginia Mason Hyperbaric Clinic, Seattle. It's a decent, basic explanation of what you are concerned about.
http://www.patientcareonline.com/co...n-scuba-diving-limits-patients-asthma-or-copd
Use to be thought no one with asthma should dive, ever. Now it's mostly accepted that if you have well controlled asthma, with acceptable peak flow characteristics when you are 'well' it's possible.
COPD is an entirely different disease process than asthma and anyone with known degree of COPD wanting to dive should have a good workup and long discussion with a diving ENT.
Having said that, LOTS of people have smoked, and dive. Lots of people DO smoke and dive. Smoking is THE major cause of COPD, and a whole mess of other health problems. So, lots of people are getting away with some degree of COPD and diving. What's ACTUALLY safe is kind of an educated guess. The only thing this forum might be good for is helping locate an appropriate physician.
Suggest you call DAN. It would be a good shortcut.
This is by Neil Hampson MD of the Virginia Mason Hyperbaric Clinic, Seattle. It's a decent, basic explanation of what you are concerned about.
http://www.patientcareonline.com/co...n-scuba-diving-limits-patients-asthma-or-copd
This form is pretty standard in the US, and perhaps wider.
https://www.padi.com/sites/default/files/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5 rstc medstate v201.pdf
Read page 4, then any other questions are for your own MD. Share this document with your MD. Contact Divers Alert Network for any other questions, guidance, referrals.
https://www.padi.com/sites/default/files/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5 rstc medstate v201.pdf
Read page 4, then any other questions are for your own MD. Share this document with your MD. Contact Divers Alert Network for any other questions, guidance, referrals.
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