H2Andy
Contributor
excellent ... my grandmother quit after she was diagnosed with emphysema, and she is doing very well
Emphysema
- Thread starter JAMIE MCG
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Good luck to her for quitting smoking. Not all chest x-rays that suggest emphysema actually indicate the disease. Pulmonary function testing, particulary one called spirometry is needed to make the diagnosis.
The first step is to stop smoking.
The first step is to stop smoking.
fisherdvm
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Charlie59:
I was just trying to use simple man's term - not to question any standard anatomical terms.
Pneumothorax is defined as air escaping into the pleural cavity. It can occurs due to rupture of the alveoli, bronchii, or a penetrating chest trauma - not strictly due to barotrauma per se.
Pneumothoracies do not cause bleeding, unless you were shot by a 44 magnum. If you pneumothorax is caused by an exploding air cavity, you certainly can have bleeding. Concurrent pneumothorax and hemothorax occurs with traumatic accidents - including barotrauma.
Of course, air emboli are rare - because we don't and should not ecourage people with emphysemia and copd to dive.
Bottom line, whether you call it "cells" or alveoli, don't dive if you have interstitial disease of the lung.
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He earlier states, "There is little functional difference between emphysema and asthma and diving with asthma is not recommended."
With regards to the remark in bold, not all diving medicine experts, including those who are pulmonologists, concur with this. A number divers, including a number of divers on this board, dive with asthma with medical clearance and do so without adverse event.
Here is a detailed discussion of the topic:
Can I Dive With Asthma?
http://www.awoosh.com/Doc Vikingo's Resource Page/Asthma_Updated.htm
An additional recent journal articles on the topic:
"Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2005 Oct;29(2):131-8.
Asthma and the diver.Davies MJ, Fisher LH, Chegini S, Craig TJ.
Department of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) diving has grown in popularity, with nearly 9 million sport divers in the United States alone. Approximately 7% of the population has been diagnosed with asthma, which is similar to the percentage of divers admitting they have asthma. Numerous concerns exist regarding subjects with asthma who choose to participate in recreational diving. Among these concerns are pulmonary barotrauma, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, arterial gas embolism, ear barotrauma, sinus barotrauma, and dental barotrauma. Despite these concerns, a paucity of information exists linking asthma to increased risk of diving complications. However, it has long been the norm to discourage individuals with asthma from participating in recreational scuba diving. This article examines the currently available literature to allow for a more informed decision regarding the possible risks associated with diving and asthma. It examines the underlying physiological principles associated with diving, including Henry's law and Boyle's law, to provide a more intimate understanding on physiological changes occurring in the respiratory system under compressive stress. Finally, this article offers a framework for guiding the patient with asthma who is interested in scuba diving. Under the right circumstances, the patient with asthma can safely participate in recreational diving without apparent increased risk of an asthma-related event."
Regards,
DocVikingo
With regards to the remark in bold, not all diving medicine experts, including those who are pulmonologists, concur with this. A number divers, including a number of divers on this board, dive with asthma with medical clearance and do so without adverse event.
Here is a detailed discussion of the topic:
Can I Dive With Asthma?
http://www.awoosh.com/Doc Vikingo's Resource Page/Asthma_Updated.htm
An additional recent journal articles on the topic:
"Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2005 Oct;29(2):131-8.
Asthma and the diver.Davies MJ, Fisher LH, Chegini S, Craig TJ.
Department of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) diving has grown in popularity, with nearly 9 million sport divers in the United States alone. Approximately 7% of the population has been diagnosed with asthma, which is similar to the percentage of divers admitting they have asthma. Numerous concerns exist regarding subjects with asthma who choose to participate in recreational diving. Among these concerns are pulmonary barotrauma, pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, arterial gas embolism, ear barotrauma, sinus barotrauma, and dental barotrauma. Despite these concerns, a paucity of information exists linking asthma to increased risk of diving complications. However, it has long been the norm to discourage individuals with asthma from participating in recreational scuba diving. This article examines the currently available literature to allow for a more informed decision regarding the possible risks associated with diving and asthma. It examines the underlying physiological principles associated with diving, including Henry's law and Boyle's law, to provide a more intimate understanding on physiological changes occurring in the respiratory system under compressive stress. Finally, this article offers a framework for guiding the patient with asthma who is interested in scuba diving. Under the right circumstances, the patient with asthma can safely participate in recreational diving without apparent increased risk of an asthma-related event."
Regards,
DocVikingo
While I did state that diving not recommended in asthma, I didn't say it was an absolute contraindication. However, with symptomatic COPD one is not likely to be particularly fit for diving.
Having said that, I would say that diving with lung disease should be done with caution and with an honest discussion with your doctor. I would make no decision based on reading a web site alone. Many people with medical issues dive, most hopefully with the advise and supervision of their doctor. Some places have doctors with special training in dive medicine and may be your best bet.
Having said that, I would say that diving with lung disease should be done with caution and with an honest discussion with your doctor. I would make no decision based on reading a web site alone. Many people with medical issues dive, most hopefully with the advise and supervision of their doctor. Some places have doctors with special training in dive medicine and may be your best bet.
Hi, this particular post is most interesting to me. Recently I had an appointment with a Pulmonologist because where I work I have to maintain Respirator Qualifications. A part of that qualification requires me to have yearly PFT tests so I have an extensive base of data showing decreased/impaired PFT test results ( latest result was approx 70% ).
I was a smoker and quit over 2 years ago, so the decreased PFT results should not be any surprise. What is surprising is that I have been diving frequently and extensively in all that time without incident. There was not any question of medical clearance because my Primary Care doctor never sent me for any further testing because other that the low PFT results, I am in excellent health. I score approximately 76-80 on a 3 minute stair step test ( lower is better and 94 is considered excellent ). I am an avid Mountain Biker and compared to my friends that race Mountain bikes, do quite well when compared to them. Since he could not explain the PFT relative to my Cardio health, he sent me to a Pulmonologist for more testing. The testing showed that I have moderate COPD and am now taking Advair and another medicine to help with that. Sadly, however, he has so far advised against diving due to concerns about the increased pressure my lungs would experience. The trapped air on ascent issue may be valid in my case, but I cannot see the increase for DCS as my blood gas saturation values are normal. In any event, I will see him again on the 20th and discuss this with him then. Hopefully, my results will have improved enough to allow diving again under mostly ideal situations.
I was a smoker and quit over 2 years ago, so the decreased PFT results should not be any surprise. What is surprising is that I have been diving frequently and extensively in all that time without incident. There was not any question of medical clearance because my Primary Care doctor never sent me for any further testing because other that the low PFT results, I am in excellent health. I score approximately 76-80 on a 3 minute stair step test ( lower is better and 94 is considered excellent ). I am an avid Mountain Biker and compared to my friends that race Mountain bikes, do quite well when compared to them. Since he could not explain the PFT relative to my Cardio health, he sent me to a Pulmonologist for more testing. The testing showed that I have moderate COPD and am now taking Advair and another medicine to help with that. Sadly, however, he has so far advised against diving due to concerns about the increased pressure my lungs would experience. The trapped air on ascent issue may be valid in my case, but I cannot see the increase for DCS as my blood gas saturation values are normal. In any event, I will see him again on the 20th and discuss this with him then. Hopefully, my results will have improved enough to allow diving again under mostly ideal situations.
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