vb1381
New
Hi
I am fairly new to diving but keep encountering the same problem when I go. I find that after one or two dives, I nearly always develop a cold/flu like symptoms. I am not ill at all before going diving but after a couple of dives, within 24 hours I have blocked nose, sore throat, sneezes which develops into a full on cold and sometimes flu. This has happened to me when diving in Lombok, the Philippines and Malaysia and I just can't figure out the cause of it. Could it just be that I have a particularly weak immune system and my body finds diving too exhausting so my I become more susceptible to illness? Can diving be the cause of this sort of thing? Am I getting germs from the equipment? Is it the dry air I'm breathing when diving? Is it the tropical climate itself (I've tried taking anti-histamine when in the Philippines and it was the dry season so dusty) I just don't know! It ends up wrecking my holiday and preventing me from doing more dives.
I have always been susceptible to colds but don't know why diving is such a trigger. Currently I am very healthy and running a lot as I am preparing for a marathon next year (so feel like I am in good shape and have improved stamina) but I am going to the Philippines this December and really want to know how to avoid this happening again as I don't want to miss out on amazing diving or ruin another holiday. Any tips or similar experiences shared would be most welcome!!!! Thank you!
VB
I am fairly new to diving but keep encountering the same problem when I go. I find that after one or two dives, I nearly always develop a cold/flu like symptoms. I am not ill at all before going diving but after a couple of dives, within 24 hours I have blocked nose, sore throat, sneezes which develops into a full on cold and sometimes flu. This has happened to me when diving in Lombok, the Philippines and Malaysia and I just can't figure out the cause of it. Could it just be that I have a particularly weak immune system and my body finds diving too exhausting so my I become more susceptible to illness? Can diving be the cause of this sort of thing? Am I getting germs from the equipment? Is it the dry air I'm breathing when diving? Is it the tropical climate itself (I've tried taking anti-histamine when in the Philippines and it was the dry season so dusty) I just don't know! It ends up wrecking my holiday and preventing me from doing more dives.
I have always been susceptible to colds but don't know why diving is such a trigger. Currently I am very healthy and running a lot as I am preparing for a marathon next year (so feel like I am in good shape and have improved stamina) but I am going to the Philippines this December and really want to know how to avoid this happening again as I don't want to miss out on amazing diving or ruin another holiday. Any tips or similar experiences shared would be most welcome!!!! Thank you!
VB