Premature with collapsed lungs

[TrojanCatMan]

Hey,

Somebody I know would like to dive and was born 9 weeks premature and with collapsed lungs. The first year of her life she had apnea. She went on to have childhood asthma but stopped using her inhaler (doesn't need it) when she was 16. Her lungs have otherwise been healthy to our knowledge. She exercises vigorously at the gym and hiking without repercussions and can even go shoveling snow for hours. She will be getting an evaluation from a diving doctor before diving but we would still like to ask some questions. Does anyone have any insights on things we should ask doctors when she gets evaluated? Does any of this raise a flag to exclude her from diving? Any thoughts are comments would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Jeremy

Ps. There is another thread on premature birth but my post asks other questions that their post did not.

 

[TSandM]

The fact that she was premature and had collapsed lungs at birth should have no impact at all on her fitness to dive, assuming there were no other major issues (eg. neurological problems). The asthma could be more of an issue, although if she is completely asymptomatic with exercise in the present day, she definitely meets the criteria DAN is using for saying an asthmatic can be cleared to dive. A physician's evaluation, and possibly pulmonary function testing, would be a very good idea for this young lady, in my opinion.

 

[sporket]

I second that of having a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test). Then getting her cleared by a Pulmonologist.