Poll -- diseases and diving

[BurBunny]

I agree that it's the combination of factors in diving which bring the results. I feel good when in a swimming pool, as I'm also weightless there, but feel better when diving. In small doses, nitrogen is my friend

However, there is a different feeling swimming at surface and swimming even 10 feet underwater. I think the constant, supported pressure on my body while I'm weightless gives more relief from the effects of gravity than simply swimming at surface. There are also residual effects out of the water which exceed those I receive when I simply work out in a pool. Probably not narcosis talking 4 hours later.

I actually believe that diving can release independent natural endorphins in the body, in excess of what is released when simply exercising, which someone in pain may not be receiving. Similar to a treatment such as acupuncture used to reduce pain, where the body is brought back into balance. And that's something beneficial to those with both fibro and lupus. I'd say it's the combination of exercise and the uniform pressure on the body in a weightless environment which gives the added benefit.

Of course, I don't have empirical research data to back me up, just know the reactions and responses I've experienced.

Interesting thoughts here. With the number of divers who have arthritis for example, perhaps this discussion deserves its own thread?

 

[dotyj]

I have very minor asthma which is irritated mostly by alergies.
I also have a rare spinal muscular desease.
I'm far sighted in my left eye with a severe astigmatism, and near sighted in my right eye.
I'm also completely healthy.

 

[ERP]

I have a rare eye problem, Browns "click" syndrome, but it doesn't really effect my ability to do anything, much less scuba dive.

 

[DivingDoc]

ERP once bubbled...
I have a rare eye problem, Browns "click" syndrome, but it doesn't really effect my ability to do anything, much less scuba dive.

Hmmm - never heard of that. What is it?

ET

 

[ERP]

Hmmm - never heard of that. What is it?

Well given my Optometrist and the two doctors I saw before him had never heard of it either until a specialist diagnosed it, I wouldn't feel too bad.

It's a problem with the muscle used to control vertical motion in the eye (superior oblique muscle?), as it was explained to me, there is either a polyp or small swelling on the muscle that prevents it from sliding freely.
The net result is that as my eye tracks vertically it stops until there is enough tension the muscle to pull the obstruction through the bone hole, at which point I feel a "click" and motion continues normally. In my case it occurs infrequently (about once a month) and lasts perhaps 24hrs.

During the "attacks" I get double vision looking at things at or slightly inline with horizontal, really freaked me out the first time it happened. But it's totally benign and if it gets worse treatable with either local steroid shots or surgery.

Apparently some sufferers have the problem continuously, and the click that I feel can be loud enough to be heard.

The doctor who finally diagnosed it was a pediatric opthomologist, he said he's seen only 2 cases (mine included) in over 20 years.

Guess I'm just lucky :/

 

[Curly]

...but that's hopefully a thing of the past!

Use your sunscreen, folks!

 

[DivingDoc]

Curly once bubbled...
...but that's hopefully a thing of the past!

Use your sunscreen, folks!

Hope they caught it early. It can be a bad actor if they didn't.

ET

 

[DennisW]

Although it wasn't very high. Once in a while it would go up and it was gradually getting higher. My father has a history of hypertension. Excersize no longer kept it down to "normal" levels. My GP decided to put me on Norvasc. After about a year, I developed a side effect that I was not interested in keeping. I quit taking the Norvasc and made an appointment with the Doc. He put me on Cozaar. Much better. My BP runs around 130 / 70 after meds. It used to be a normal 120 / 70 all the time. It began to drift up to 140 / 80 - 90. That's when the Doc put me on medication.

 

[zboss]

k4sdi once bubbled...
Wow, a lot of asthma in the poll. I thought that was kind of a bad idea? Maybe there is some new info on that I havent seen.

I have high BP, but its under control pretty well. Also working on lossing a little weight, maybe that should be added as a medical condition.



Mark

With a growing (and large) percentage of children being diagnosed with asthma is does not surprise me that a good percentage of divers have been diagnosed with it. Also - I would guess that the actual number of divers with asthma is much higher than the polls suggest because there are definately people out there that have it but have never been diagnosed as such.

How many active divers are there out there? 3 million or so? If we take these figures to be representative of the active diving population (you are on this board after-all) we could calculate that there are 300,000 divers with asthma - obviously the DCI science or conclusions are flawed.

 

[Garfish]

What's up Doc!

I quess for a occasional hernia and a mild case of sometimers , in which my wife tell's me that i have, i quess i'm in pretty good health. { for the sometimers, i usually get away with things when it come to my wife} lol....

I'm in my early fiftys and take a occasional aspirin and vit E, but the best way folks is to walk and excercise and stay in shape. With all kiding aside the good lord has been looking down over me and hope to be diving many of years to come.

ps. I hope this doesn't offend anyone for i can understand what other people are going through, in particular,this being a great sport.

Safe diving to you all.....