Dan12706
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Was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure. Would assume that it would not be a problem to continue diving but thought I would ask to be sure. Thanks
Diving and high blood pressure
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Dan12706:
I'm not a doctor but I'd think it's best to avoid anything that could result in strenuous activity until you have it confirmed to be under control. BTW I have it but I'm under control. Consider when something goes wrong for you or your buddy, not just the perfect dives. Until it's controlled there's not doubt you have an elevated risk of a heart attack I think I can make that statement as common knowledge.
A quick search in the medical forum should yeild plenty of light reading.
Is you doctor dive savy and if so what as his recomendation?
Pete
Dan12706:
Certainly talk to your doctor first but don't get cought in the silly trap that says I am sick, I can't excersise. That belife is so 50's! One of the best cures for High BP is excersise. Good strong cardio! Under a doctors care of course.
This was well before my time but the doctors used to say if you had a bad hear then you shouldn't excersise. That belief KILLED a lot of people. Now the first thing they do is throw you into a Physical rehab program and build muscle.
I have borderline BP and if I excersise and drop a little weight it goes away.
I am going to go out on the limb here knowing there are doctors on the board to correct me if I am wrong. I think that your high blood presssure, until it is under control is diagnosed as hypertension, and hypertension is a relative contridiction to diving. It is a relative contridiction because it can be gotten under control at which point it will no longer be a contridiction to diving.
I have HBP and have it under control, like Lava Surfer said, exercise and weight control help a lot, but in your case you should get it under control before you continue to participate in diving activities.
I have HBP and have it under control, like Lava Surfer said, exercise and weight control help a lot, but in your case you should get it under control before you continue to participate in diving activities.
I have HBP as well. I have just recently gotten it under control. I was taking some meds for it but I wasnt responding to it the way I should. I went to my DR (who is also a diver) for a physical so I could start my Divemaster class, and he put me on a different med. While it was ridiculasly high at the time and I had some other issues going on in my life at the time that would possibly explain the spike/headaches, I reluctantly tried the new medication.
It took a few weeks to take effect but its dropped down considerabley. In the meantime, he had refused to sign off on the medical waiver until it was down a bit. I was annoyed that he wouldnt sign off on me right then but with him being a diver, I respected his decision and was glad that he understood what I was trying to do.
I would suggest a DR visit and maybe try another type of medication. I have heard stories of some people trying for several months to get "dialed in". I was fortunate on my second try.
In addition to this, think about everybody else in your life and those you dive with. Why put them in that situation? Why impose on them, the job of bringing you up to the surface/shore and caring for you, with what is such an easily remedied problem?........
It took a few weeks to take effect but its dropped down considerabley. In the meantime, he had refused to sign off on the medical waiver until it was down a bit. I was annoyed that he wouldnt sign off on me right then but with him being a diver, I respected his decision and was glad that he understood what I was trying to do.
I would suggest a DR visit and maybe try another type of medication. I have heard stories of some people trying for several months to get "dialed in". I was fortunate on my second try.
In addition to this, think about everybody else in your life and those you dive with. Why put them in that situation? Why impose on them, the job of bringing you up to the surface/shore and caring for you, with what is such an easily remedied problem?........
I had a triple bypass and if you're over 40 I'd talk to your doctor about getting a stess/echo test. That will let you and your doctor know how if the ole ticker is up to the challange. Just getting your BP under controll doesn't tell the whole story.
Dennis
Dennis
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