Hi, I'm new to diving (only 2 pool dives so far). Immediately after my last dive I wasn't feeling well. Had a chest x-ray that I was told was normal, but received an email from the radiologist that I had hyperinflation of my lungs. I spoke with DAN who suggested I see a pulmologist before going back in the water... I see my regular doc tomorrow, I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? And if they we ever able to dive again? I'm so worried. :/
Diving with hyperinflation of lungs??
- Thread starter Makai1972
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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...
This finding *could* be a sign of an underlying pulmonary issue that involves air trapping, which you don't want to have when diving due to the risk of pulmonary barotrauma (lung overinflation, which can lead to a variety of serious injuries). I concur with DAN's recommendation, and would further strongly recommend that you not dive until this is resolved. Please post back when you hear something.
Best regards,
DDM
CuriousRambler
Contributor
Don't be afraid to ask your regular doc directly if he/she is familiar with diving medicine and physiology. If they can't confidently say yes, and readily provide their medical background that qualifies them, then any "not worried" diagnosis is about as useful as getting your diagnosis from a drive thru coffee shop. Politely ask for the referral you mentioned.
As divers, we're really outside the realm of "normal" medicine. Aside from divers, miners, mountaineers, and aviators...essentially nobody exposes themselves to increased or decreased atmospheric pressures. Each of these exposures carries unique challenges and risks that "normal" medicine doesn't have to worry about. Divers get to enjoy both increased and decreased pressures, as you're constantly acclimatizing to your surrounding pressure throughout a dive.
Because what we do is so abnormal, our bodies never saw fit to develop the ability to detect or avoid damage of the lungs from over expansion. A person can very easily cause themselves serious damage without feeling any pain or having any "gag reflex" or anything.
Were I in your shoes, I wouldn't even contemplate diving with "probably" not a big deal diagnoses from specialists. Nothing down there is worth dying for.
Best of luck to you, I hope it's something minor and easily corrected!
As divers, we're really outside the realm of "normal" medicine. Aside from divers, miners, mountaineers, and aviators...essentially nobody exposes themselves to increased or decreased atmospheric pressures. Each of these exposures carries unique challenges and risks that "normal" medicine doesn't have to worry about. Divers get to enjoy both increased and decreased pressures, as you're constantly acclimatizing to your surrounding pressure throughout a dive.
Because what we do is so abnormal, our bodies never saw fit to develop the ability to detect or avoid damage of the lungs from over expansion. A person can very easily cause themselves serious damage without feeling any pain or having any "gag reflex" or anything.
Were I in your shoes, I wouldn't even contemplate diving with "probably" not a big deal diagnoses from specialists. Nothing down there is worth dying for.
Best of luck to you, I hope it's something minor and easily corrected!
Hyperinflation of lungs is often a normal finding and just means you were taking a deep breath when an X-ray was taken. I would have your doc review the film but wouldn’t worry much if he/she says it is ok.
Chest x-rays, in general, are not very good at making the diagnosis of increased lung volumes. However, as was mentioned above, this "could" be a finding of obstructive lung disease. I would recommend getting an evaluation by a pulmonologist, preferably one with some diving knowledge. If your pulmonary function tests are normal and there are no blebs or other abnormalities on CT scan, you should be able to dive without restrictions. Just my 2 cents as a cardiologist (but not a pulmonologist) 
I have to agree. My doc said she knew nothing about diving/dive medicine and how hyperinflation would relate to it, so I nicely asked her to refer me out, which she did. We'll see how that goes. Thanks for the advice!
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