Be very very careful taking Afrin and Sudafed prior to diving.
While these may assist you in clearing to get down... they may cause a more severe problem should their effects wear off during a dive.
The use of decongestents prior to diving is not recommended by knowledgeable Instructors. It is often recommended by fellow divers and the occassional uninformed instructor.
Decongestents are often fast acting and fast failing in their ability to relieve the symptons of "stuffiness" which often cause ones inability to clear.
FACT: The use of decongestents has been shown to cause "reverse block" if it's effects wear off during a dive. Reverse block is caused during ascent when the block returns and the air is unable to escape from the inner ear. This can cause severe inner ear pain and possibly a rupture. These are serious issues in and of themself, however more serious is the possibility that reverse block can lead to an equalibrium imbalance leading to vertigo... a dangerous condition on land... even more dangerous in the water.
Many cases simply ruled drownings are possibly the result of vertigo during ascent. The slightest change of pressure in the inner ear at depth can cause catasrophic problems.
I speak from first hand experience. Early on in my diving career I was told to take Sudafed when I was congested. My first experience with reverse block and vertigo occurred on a night dive at 45 ft. While ascending just a couple of feet (from 45 to 40) I suffered severe inner ear pain. I stopped and descended a little and got relief... then tried to ascend again. The pain returned. I had to make my ascent, so I continued toward the surface... the pain continued to increase as the pressure built up in my ear... unable to escape... the air eventually (literally) burst out causing the sensation of vertigo (spinning.) I was lucky, I made it to the surface, completely disoriented. I chalked the first event up to a possible ear infection and disorientation on a night dive. This was the conclusion of my uninformed Instructor at the time.
My second experience came a year later on a dive in the Bahamas to 100 ft. Much scarier (won't retell the whole story... but again I survived. This time I contacted DAN - Divers Alert Network who referred me to a local Diving ENT in my area.
I learned from him about the effects of decongestents during diving. I was advised not to use decongestents before diving... and 8 years later (and hundreds of dives,) I have never had another bout of reverse block or vertigo. Thanks to DAN and the professionals who know what they're talking about.
Not sure about the DAN guy who told you to take Afrin... but just like everything else in the world... things just aren't what they used to be.
If you're so congested you can't clear your ears without medication... then you shouldn't be diving. Period.
Happy Diving!
While these may assist you in clearing to get down... they may cause a more severe problem should their effects wear off during a dive.
The use of decongestents prior to diving is not recommended by knowledgeable Instructors. It is often recommended by fellow divers and the occassional uninformed instructor.
Decongestents are often fast acting and fast failing in their ability to relieve the symptons of "stuffiness" which often cause ones inability to clear.
FACT: The use of decongestents has been shown to cause "reverse block" if it's effects wear off during a dive. Reverse block is caused during ascent when the block returns and the air is unable to escape from the inner ear. This can cause severe inner ear pain and possibly a rupture. These are serious issues in and of themself, however more serious is the possibility that reverse block can lead to an equalibrium imbalance leading to vertigo... a dangerous condition on land... even more dangerous in the water.
Many cases simply ruled drownings are possibly the result of vertigo during ascent. The slightest change of pressure in the inner ear at depth can cause catasrophic problems.
I speak from first hand experience. Early on in my diving career I was told to take Sudafed when I was congested. My first experience with reverse block and vertigo occurred on a night dive at 45 ft. While ascending just a couple of feet (from 45 to 40) I suffered severe inner ear pain. I stopped and descended a little and got relief... then tried to ascend again. The pain returned. I had to make my ascent, so I continued toward the surface... the pain continued to increase as the pressure built up in my ear... unable to escape... the air eventually (literally) burst out causing the sensation of vertigo (spinning.) I was lucky, I made it to the surface, completely disoriented. I chalked the first event up to a possible ear infection and disorientation on a night dive. This was the conclusion of my uninformed Instructor at the time.
My second experience came a year later on a dive in the Bahamas to 100 ft. Much scarier (won't retell the whole story... but again I survived. This time I contacted DAN - Divers Alert Network who referred me to a local Diving ENT in my area.
I learned from him about the effects of decongestents during diving. I was advised not to use decongestents before diving... and 8 years later (and hundreds of dives,) I have never had another bout of reverse block or vertigo. Thanks to DAN and the professionals who know what they're talking about.
Not sure about the DAN guy who told you to take Afrin... but just like everything else in the world... things just aren't what they used to be.
If you're so congested you can't clear your ears without medication... then you shouldn't be diving. Period.
Happy Diving!
