High blood pressure
- Thread starter baragon
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
baragon:
Persons with uncontrolled high (or even low) blood pressure should not dive.
Dr Deco
Contributor
- Messages
- 2,384
- Reaction score
- 96
- # of dives
- I just don't log dives
Hello baragon:
The blood pressure always includes the ambient pressure (one atmosphere) that is ever present around you. The blood pressure should actually be measured with respect to some constant value (such as the vacuum of space) to visualize this most easily. If you increase the pressure, e.g., by div8ng, the arterial pressure increases (with respect to vacuum) but is countered by the external pressure on your skin.
Likewise, if you go to altitude, e.g., in an airplane, the external pressure decreases and so would the blood pressure (with respect to vacuum).
Dr Deco :doctor:
Readers, please note the next class in Decompression Physiology :1book:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm
The blood pressure always includes the ambient pressure (one atmosphere) that is ever present around you. The blood pressure should actually be measured with respect to some constant value (such as the vacuum of space) to visualize this most easily. If you increase the pressure, e.g., by div8ng, the arterial pressure increases (with respect to vacuum) but is countered by the external pressure on your skin.
Likewise, if you go to altitude, e.g., in an airplane, the external pressure decreases and so would the blood pressure (with respect to vacuum).
Dr Deco :doctor:
Readers, please note the next class in Decompression Physiology :1book:
http://wrigley.usc.edu/hyperbaric/advdeco.htm
- Messages
- 5,721
- Reaction score
- 474
1. (Q) Does the pressure exerted by being underwater compound with one's own blood pressure, or are they independant?
(A) Alterations in ambient pressure per se exerted by scuba should not make any significant alteration in blood pressure. However, immersion in water can activate mechanisms that may at least transiently increase BP
2. (Q) And if so are divers with high blood pressure exposed to a higher degree of health risk?
(A) Persons with HBP are subject to a higher degree of health risk both u/w and topside.
There also are issues of the implications of BP medications for safe scuba. The individual with abnormal BP should be under control and secure medical clearance before diving.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
(A) Alterations in ambient pressure per se exerted by scuba should not make any significant alteration in blood pressure. However, immersion in water can activate mechanisms that may at least transiently increase BP
2. (Q) And if so are divers with high blood pressure exposed to a higher degree of health risk?
(A) Persons with HBP are subject to a higher degree of health risk both u/w and topside.
There also are issues of the implications of BP medications for safe scuba. The individual with abnormal BP should be under control and secure medical clearance before diving.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
- Messages
- 5,721
- Reaction score
- 474
baragon:
You're welcome, baragon.
Not a problem--I'll share it with the Diving Medicine forum.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
OldHickory
New
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
Some questions for you doctors:
1. Is the risk of diving with High Blood Pressure (HBP) any greater than the risk of any other activity with HBP (running, playing baseball, skiing)?
2. If the answer if yes, then what level (if any) of high blood pressure is considered acceptable for diving (i.e. is there some cut-off point beyond which diving should be avoided)?
Thanks.
Old Hickory
1. Is the risk of diving with High Blood Pressure (HBP) any greater than the risk of any other activity with HBP (running, playing baseball, skiing)?
2. If the answer if yes, then what level (if any) of high blood pressure is considered acceptable for diving (i.e. is there some cut-off point beyond which diving should be avoided)?
Thanks.
Old Hickory
- Messages
- 5,721
- Reaction score
- 474
(Q) 1. Is the risk of diving with High Blood Pressure (HBP) any greater than the risk of any other activity with HBP (running, playing baseball, skiing)?
(A) The risk that HPB and its associated conditions pose for routine recreational diving is probably less than that posed for activities like running or cross-country skiing which heavily stress the cardiovascular system.
On the other hand, it usually is safer and easier to administer care and obtain swift emergency transport when the patient is on land rather than in the water.
(Q) 2. If the answer if yes, then what level (if any) of high blood pressure is considered acceptable for diving (i.e. is there some cut-off point beyond which diving should be avoided)?
(A) The answer to this is not known. However, it would appear prudent for the individual with significantly elevated blood pressure to desist from all potentially dangerous recreations either until BP is brought under adequate control or medical clearance is obtained.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
(A) The risk that HPB and its associated conditions pose for routine recreational diving is probably less than that posed for activities like running or cross-country skiing which heavily stress the cardiovascular system.
On the other hand, it usually is safer and easier to administer care and obtain swift emergency transport when the patient is on land rather than in the water.
(Q) 2. If the answer if yes, then what level (if any) of high blood pressure is considered acceptable for diving (i.e. is there some cut-off point beyond which diving should be avoided)?
(A) The answer to this is not known. However, it would appear prudent for the individual with significantly elevated blood pressure to desist from all potentially dangerous recreations either until BP is brought under adequate control or medical clearance is obtained.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
Similar threads
