Could dry air cause sinus problems?

[Whale Whisperer]

Just curious, is it possible for dry air to cause sinus congestion? I've been having problems with cotton mouth and gaging from dry air lately, and wondering if it contributed to my recent sinus squeeze situations (I had no obvious signs of congestion at all). I do hydrate myself to the point where I have to go almost every 30 minutes, to prevent dry mouth but it doesn't seem to work for me.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Whale Whisperer,

Hyper-dry air, such as that found in SCUBA cylinders, indeed can dry out nasal passages and make it difficult to breathe.

Products such NeilMed's Nasal Rinse Kit (NeilMed Products - Sinus Rinse, Nasal Rinse, Sinusitis, Rhinitis, Allergies) may provide some relief.

In addition to staying very well hydrated while diving, dry mouth solutions include:

1. Purchase a reg with "moisturizing fins" in the second stage, such as the Oasis & Blizzard made by Sherwood (Welcome to Sherwood Scuba!).

2. Purchase of Apollo's in-line mositurizers (Bio-Filter; Apollo Sports: Dive Gear: Regulators: Bio-Filter).

3. Purchase a "Camelbak" bottle (http://www.camelbak.com/index.cfm), a nifty little diver's canteen that allows a squirt of fresh water when wanted.

4. Periodically tickle the roof of your mouth with your tongue, or run it along your teeth, as this will trigger salivation.

5. Rub a very small bit of toothpaste in your mouthpiece prior to entry.

Helpful?

Best regards.

DocVikingo

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

 

[gert7to3]

In addition to the nasal rinse kit DocVikingo suggested, there are several brands of saline nasal moisturizer sprays available. These are just mildly salted water, no medications, but I find them very helpful. They keep my sinuses moisturized during repeated dives.

Another thing I do during my dives, is to pull my reg out and swish my tongue around inside my mouth. This has the added advantage of giving you practice should you ever need to swap second stages for buddy breathing or if your reg gets bumped out of your mouth.

 

[Whale Whisperer]

Thanks everyone for the great sugestions! I was thinking about carrying a small camelback, in the future. Have to play that by ear... I did try swishing ocean water around but it doesn't seem to help in my case. But the Apollo bio filter may be my best bet.

DocVikingo, I'll try suggestion #4 & 5 never thought of that

Thanks again