Hypertension and Decompression chambers

[LancB17]

I am a sport diver diagnosed with Hypertension currently on Lisinopril 10mg daily. I am thinking about changing my career to becoming a Life Support Technician working with Commercial divers... would my condition prevent me from working as an LST because of the need to decompress in a chamber? Regarding medicals I am a pilot but have a commercial medical so I am fit and my blood pressure is controlled. Thanks

 

[scubadoc]

If your BP is well controlled and all is as you state - then you should have no problem working in a hyperbaric chamber. The Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor and has few side effects, mainly a troublesome cough.

It probably would be wise to monitor your BP a little more closely at first - just to be on the safe side. Hypertensives are somewhat more prone to have coronary artery disease so you might want to have an exercise stress test before venturing into long decompression schedules.

 

[LancB17]

Thank you for your reply. My aim now is to go onto a LST course and hopefully gain employment. Once again thankyou.