high Blood pressure and diving

[pasley]

....
LOL,my very 1st thought when they told me what was going to happen was if I would be able to dive again. I went home and did not research the illness, but looked into full face masks. Thankfully I have not needed one and am doing well.

Spoken like a true diver. I read about a gentleman who golfed and had to have a procedure that would leave his hand permanently fixed in one position, he had them fit it to his golf club.

 

[davidaus]

I found out that I had uncontrolled hypertension and am now being treated for it with Amlodophine and Ramparil. I have been on this treatment now for almost six months with the hypertension under control through. Is it worth seeing a diving doctor now to get a medical?

What I don't want to do is book up to see a diving doctor is I have no realistic change of getting a medical e.g if you need to have the hypertension under control for a longer period. Any advice greatfully received.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I found out that I had uncontrolled hypertension and am now being treated for it with Amlodophine and Ramparil. I have been on this treatment now for almost six months with the hypertension under control through. Is it worth seeing a diving doctor now to get a medical?

@davidaus: Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor. Both anti-hypertensive meds are usually well tolerated in the diving population. With calcium channel blockers, the side effect divers should be aware of is orthostatic hypotension. In some people, ACE inhibitors can elicit a persistent cough and airway inflammation -- bad things to be dealing with underwater. Read what Divers Alert Network has to say about cardiovascular meds.

If your blood pressure is well-controlled, you are in compliance with your physician's orders on taking the meds, and the med dosages are set (doctor isn't still changing dosages or adding/subtracting drugs to the regimen), I don't think there's a pressing need for you to see a diving physician for consultation about your history of hypertension. If you wanted to be really careful, you could monitor how your blood pressure varies during exercise...and specifically before/after diving. Nevertheless, keep a watchful eye on potential side effects of the meds or any symptoms which might indicate that your blood pressure is venturing outside normal limits.

 

[pasley]

Call Dan at and ask them 1-919-684-2948 or 1-919-684-9111. You may also want to read on the DAN website and read the article at Diving Medicine FAQs Calcium Channel Blockers (Cardizem, Caduet etc.)

 

[tracydr]

Exercise and lose weight. Get as thin as you possibly can. Stop drinking any alcohol or smoking if you do. We Americans have a very bad attitude of expecting doctors to fix everything with a pill when in truth, most of our problems really require us to fix ourselves. hTN tends to go away when you start eating rabbit food and exercising an hour a day. Besides, you'll feel better, dive better and live longer!

 

[Troutmaster]

Exercise and lose weight. Get as thin as you possibly can. Stop drinking any alcohol or smoking if you do. We Americans have a very bad attitude of expecting doctors to fix everything with a pill when in truth, most of our problems really require us to fix ourselves.

Did you read the thread? The OP does exercise, does eat right, doesn't smoke, and has several underlying medical issues. She also had a liver transplant, would your solution to liver failure also be "go on a diet?"

As I am sure you learned in medical school, some people have high blood pressure, and for some of us it is not because of bad lifestyle choices. I personally get a little tired of folks telling me if I would lose a few pounds I would not need the BP meds. I was diagnosed at 16 years old with HBP, 212 over 110 during a sports physical. At 23 I came out of a very tough police training academy at 9 percent bodyfat, running 3 to 6 miles a day, a 50 inch chest and a 33 inch waist, 190 pounds at 6-2. And I STILL had high blood pressure. How much more fit would you like me to have been?

Go back and read the thread, do you really feel you should be telling this OP to "fix herself" as implied above? Or did you just make a blanket "get fit" statement without actually reading the posts?

 

[flygirl74]

Hi all!! I'm new to diving and this forum. Just two weeks ago I finished my Open water with no problems. Today I went out for a couple dives and after the first tank dive I felt tired and a little dizzy. It past and I finished up the day with a second dive. When I got home I checked my BP and I was 99/69 with a heartrate of 76. A little background on me. I'm a 38 year old female. I've had very high BP over the last few of years. I'm active and not over weight. I've been on many different BP medications, but as of 6 months ago I'm on Carvedilol 25mg twice a day and half a Lorsartan-HCTZ 100-12.5mg. I'm guessing that I was a little dehydrated in between dives causing me to bottom out and get a little dizzy. My Cardiologist is not a sports guy and I was just curious if I should be worried about diving. Thanks!!

 

[krawlings]

I had a physical 8 months ago and my Doctor ( who is a dive doc) TOLD ME I HAD REAL HI BLOOD PRESSURE. and that I needed to start taking meds for it .i told him my concerns . with taking meds . He told me the one he was prescribing for me work real will and would be no problem with divine . and has worked great. got my BP back to a norm . so I now take Amlodipine - Benazepril generic for Lotrel .

 

[farsidefan1]

I have been on hypertension meds for 10 yrs. Accupril in the morning and norvasc at night. No issues diving.

 

[TSandM]

flygirl74, the carvedilol is a medication from a class called beta blockers. This type of medication can blunt the reflex increased heart rate that ought to occur when your blood pressure falls, and it can also prevent the heart from speeding up as much as it needs to when you exercise. This particular class of medications is not a good first choice for someone who is diving.