Severe Headaches When Diving Deep

[RyanT]

top trying to modulate your breathing. Just breath. If your body wants to take a breath, take a damn breath. It knows best. When you start trying to outsmart billions of years of evolution you're going to lose.

Well put AJ.

My guess is that you are experiencing hypercapnia (elevated CO2 levels). This effect is becomes worse the deeper you dive due to the increased density of the gas you're breathing. What we teach in human physiology 101 is that elevated CO2 levels are what triggers us to inhale and/or ventilate our lungs more. This has both the effect of increasing O2 and getting rid of excess carbon dioxide. Interestingly, there is some evidence to suggest that many people are fairly resistant to increased CO2 levels and don't elevate their ventilation rate in response to increased CO2...so called carbon dioxide retainers!

Going back to what AJ said, just relax and breathe. Concentrate on slowing down your exertion and breathing normally at a relaxed pace.

 

[FinnMom]

I have noticed that I can get a very unpleasant headach from dehydration. After repeated dives, esp. 1st thing in the morning after 2-3 dives the day before. It resolves amazingly well with no painkillers about 30 minutes after I drink a good 1 liter or more of water.

If it is CO2 buildup, as well as making a point of breathing deeply and in a relaxed manner, would nitrox or "slightrox" (mixes safe for your depth of course) on air settings (less bottom time, slower ascent) be helpful?

 

[Manneca]

I'm guessing it's CO2, but then I'm not a doctor. But it could also be sinus issues.

 

[Stoo]

I won't echo what others have said about breathing, but I agree that skunky air may be the culprit. Gas with a "marginal" level of contamination may not be an issue at shallower depths, but could show itself in a deeper profile.

Also, don't rule out a muscular thing. Neck tension or even upper back tension can often result in a headache. Since you live in Thailand, a massage should be easier to find than a Diving Doc. ;-)

 

[CuzzA]

Hey Peeps - I've scoured the web for answers but can't really find an answer so I'm throwing this one out here for ideas.

I've been experiencing severe headaches when doing deeper diving lately. The first few times I shrugged it off and put it down to either coincidence or dehydration, but now it's becoming a problem. I've done over 150 dives without ever experiencing this, about 100 of which could be considered 'deep' - 18-30m range, and around 10 in the 30-40m range. A recreational 'fun dive' at 18 meters seems to be no issue at all, but 20+ minutes at 20+ meters is where I find it starts kicking in.

After the first 4 or 5 dives I started making a conscious effort to ensure that I'm sufficiently hydrated to try and rule out mere dehydration, but it's not really helped. The only thing I've really changed lately is that I've started to concentrate on air improving my air consumption so have deliberately been breathing more conservatively and slowly to use less air in general. On a 45 minute dive to 18-30 meters I've since found that I can save an extra 30bar or so - which I feel is a fair improvement and I'm happy with.

That said, after 20-30 minutes the headaches become severe but seem to reside within 60-90 minutes after surfacing. So after an hours surface interval I usually feel okay to carry on with the second, more shallow, dive. Though, I have called the second dive on two occasions now because I felt the headache was painful enough to start clouding my focus and judgement if I were to dive again.

There is never pain in my sinuses, ears, face or cheekbone area and I have no issues equalizing on descent or ascent. It is unipolar in nature, i.e. not one sided and always centred around the very middle of the top of my head. I'm looking at getting into Tec diving sooner rather than later but this is naturally concerning to me.

From what I've fathomed, the likely culprit so far would seem to be caused by a 'CO2 headache' which is described as



I'm going to try and rule this out tomorrow by breathing much more liberally to see if the pain reoccurs or not.
If it does, I guess I'm going to have to try and find the fine line between conservative breathing to improve air consumption, and the avoidance of a CO2 headache.

I just wanted to throw it out to you all for any other possible suggestions or things I should be looking for?

Thanks! Ry

I can't add much to what has already been said, but... Do you smoke?

 

[bamafan]

If you are diving in a 3rd world location I would be concerned about your gas. Have you checked CO? It has happened in Florida more than once.

 

[scubaguy655]

All good info. On a more simple note, do you find yourself biting down on your mouthpiece really hard when you are diving deeper? This can cause a bad headache for me.

 

[g1138]

What is your Safety Stop protocol for deep dives?

Past 18m I start doing Deep Stops. 1-2min at half my max depth, then Safety Stop 3min at 6m, and if I'm feeling for it another 1min at 3-4m.

Personally I've found headaches to happen for me after multiple dives with fast ascents. Usually occurs during workings dives when I'm heading up at the 30ft/min ascent rate. Normally I got up very very slow and take extended Safety Stops just because I like the zen.

 

[ScubaJill]

Is your mask band too tight? The combination of a too-tight band and the additional pressure the deeper you go can cause dull headaches.

To repeat what others have said: your breathing pattern is causing buildup of co2, chomping on your mouthpiece, muscle tightness in your neck and upper back, sinus issues, and dehydration. I once had a wicked headache after a dive because I skipped my coffee that morning. Caffeine withdrawal=bad headaches.

But I would go to the doctor if the headaches make you change your dive behavior. Call DAN if available to you.

 

[uncfnp]

Speaking as a diver with a medical but no dive medicine background, stop trying to conserve gas. Yes, you can take good deep breaths. Don't breath hold. If interested watch some yoga breathing videos. From your post this is my first guess.

And if able and appropriate get your gas analyzed. And how is your reg breathing. Does it need checked, retuned?

And last, from the description "top of head" I think you can rule out sinus, ear or TMJ as the source and neck strain or stress is unlikely.

Fix you air use, breathe and if you still get headaches, go see a medical provider even if you can't get in with a dive medicine specialist.