Does Nitrox make you feel better? (split from Nitrox on OW course)

[Trace Malinowski]

Just as all medications do not affect every person the same way, and just as drinking different quantities of alcohol does not affect every person the same way, I'm sure all gases, percentages of gases in a mix and their resuting gradients will affect one diver differently than another.

I feel better with trimix than other gases, but is that because of the gas or because I'll only make one trimix dive per day, whereas, with nitrox or air, I'll make repetitive dives? I tend to feel more narced with nitrox than with air, but is this because I make more dives that are around 100 feet with nitrox? I tend to get heartburn when using nitrox, but is this because I use it more when teaching, teach lots of classes at Dutch Springs, and eat at the Italian restaurant on site? Or, is it because I tend to get heartburn more when I'm cold and I tend to get colder when making more than one dive?

Do nitrox divers have more sex because of nitrox, or do they get a little bit more swagger and confidence when they can slap nitrox or MOD labels on tanks - and that swagger leads to more sex?

There is a lot of information to assemble other than just gases, such as how do we change our diving habits when we dive certain gases? Even if we did a controlled study in which all these variables were controllerd, some divers wouldn't be in the norm.

It seems with the amount of people diving air, nitrox and trimix, each gas has its benefits and its drawbacks and what makes one diver feel good will bend another, or narc another, because the process of respiration, gas exchange, energy use, waste elimination, inert gas loading and unloading, is quite complex.

If you think you feel good, then dive it. The brain is a powerful tool and if you think you are better, safer, healthier and less prone to DCS, your body may believe you.

 

[scubadada]

There's a funny short article in July 2006 Undercurrent, members can retrieve it

Good diving, Craig

 

[Sas]

Hey Saspotato,

Would you suggest Nitrox 32 or 36, I can't decide?

Good diving? Craig

36%. Bigger (%O2) is always better

 

[Lee Taylor]

This thread should be submitted to Mythbusters

 

[Capt Scotty]

36%. Bigger (%O2) is always better

Depends on how deep you are going....

 

[boulderjohn]

I seem to recall reading somewhere(Undercurrents?) the results of a study(or perhaps accumulation of anecdotal evidence) that indicated that divers who used nitrox reported having more sex than divers using air.

Did it have anything to do with buttered beds?

 

[Herk_Man]

How do you know? Have you done some studies? Have you read any studies? I know of one double blind study on this topic. The results indicate placebo.

Please cite your source.

 

[Herk_Man]

I don't feel any different diving air or nitrox (29%-36%). I figure if someone thinks it makes them feel less tired, it doesn't matter if it's "real" or "placebo", they're entitled to their opinion as much as I am. And if it works for them, cool!

The thing that bugs me is when people declare that "nitrox WILL make you feel less tired", as if it's a proven fact. The only "evidence" is anectodal, not factual (so really not "evidence" at all), thus the appropriate statement is that "nitrox MAY make you feel less tired."

I typically dive OxOx which is blends of air with less than 21% O2. And I have to say, a lot of times I finish the dive dead. Any thoughts on this... cuzzzz this other argument is really freakin old.

 

[Herk_Man]

Well there's 2 problems I see:

1. Increased cost of Nitrox:

Consider this thought experiment: Company XYZ creates a "cure" for a non-fatal sickness (cold or something). There is no double-blind study to support its effectiveness, but people using it seem to think it makes their cold better. The company charges $5 for a daily pill. While working at company XYZ you discover it is just a sugar pill. Has the company done anything wrong? After all, cold's aren't dangerous, just annoying: if people feel better after using the pill, then that is $5 well spent. Still, to me, something feels wrong about this.


2. Passing the info on to others
It's one thing to spend your own money on Nitrox for the sole reason of "feeling better", but passing along non-scientific information to others means they might be wasting their money as well. So yes, I do think it "matters" if it is true or not, especially when it would be realtively easy to test.

Um, the discussion of how Nitrox makes you feel is a subjective one. That's clear. But Nitrox has objective benefits that make the extra cost ethical and justified. So nobody's trying to sell snake oil here. The pot's been stirred enough. Don't bring another spoon.

 

[Herk_Man]

OK, so there will never be the controlled clinical trials to answer this question. We can all believe what we want to believe on this issue, scientific data or anecdotal experience based. At least my bed is not buttered on either end, thank goodness.


Good diving, Craig

I buttered the bed, thinking good things would happen. The wife made me sleep on the couch... with no butter!