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You wrote: > >I have men diagnosed with mild Asthma but have not had any problems diving. I >make sure I use the inhalor before any dive to be sure my airways are as open >as I can get them. I have been down to only 110 ft. - One time being a deco >dive. Does anybody else out there dive with Asthma and do Deco diving? I >would like to try it but I am nervous and do not want yo be a stroke! ******************* RESPONSE FOLLOWS *************** I had recently posted this on SCUBA-L as general thoughts RE: asthma. In the particular case U R adding the caveat of decompression diving & its role in the risk vis a vis the astmatic diver. Deco diving per se would not be the problem, but the obligatory sojourn @ a shallow depth that such diving entails could be problemmatic. The acute bronchoconstriction that the stimulus causes in asthmaics, & the subsequent air trapping with a drop in ambient P, that is pulmonary over pressurization [POP] are the culprit here. The relative drop in ambient P is smaller @ greater depths, resulting in lesser insult to the lungs for equal change in depth. Thus a benign attack @ depth may have no consequence, but @ shallow depths may cause POP related pathology. It would follow that the obligatory time spent @ shallow depth, @ under conditions that R < ideal, increase the risk, on simple probabilistic terms (affording more time for an inopportune event to occur when most detrimental) as well as factors of increased exercise, etc associated w/ maintaining depth when cinditions R adverse. Again it may be worth checking BSAC's policy on deco diving by their 'cleared' asthmatics. That is a sub population of asthmatics & the guidelines R abstracted below. What is asthma? - it is a disease in which acute dyspnea may occur. What is its relation to diving? - It may predispose to air-trapping and hence pulmonary barotrauma which is undesirable to say the least, & could even be fatal. Can asthmatics dive? - According to current standards of US Diving agencies, asthma is considered an absolute contraindication to diving. However the standards elsewhere are more relaxed. The British (BSAC) have verified standards. It is noteworthy that those standards place the final responsibility for making the decision to dive on the afflicted diver. That is, the cleared asthmatic is advised that they should refrain from diving if they needed to take a bronchodilator within 48 hours preceding the dive or if symptoms such as wheezing or other chest symptoms felt at the time of the dive. The BSAC guidelines/standards for clearing an asthmatic for diving follow: 1. Those with allergic asthma are permitted to dive. 2. Those who have exercise, cold or emotional state induced asthma are excluded. Those asthmatics [with allergy induced asthma] who are permitted to dive are to those that have symptoms that are limited to those controlled by the likes of Intal plain (but not compound) and/or inhaled steroids. In addition it is advised that the adequacy of control of asthma be assessed using lung function tests as well as by clinical parameters. Asthmatics who only need bronchodilators occasionally may dive. However those that regularly require medication containing bronchodilators (e.g. ventolin, aminaphylline, intal compound) or oral steroids may not dive. Thus this eliminates, very clearly, those with chronic problems. The very restrictive stance in the US that bars asthmatics (diabetics also) is probably a product of the litigious environment. As a result closet asthmatics & diabetics probably get certified without the benefit of true counselling. That is the worst case scenario - an individual diving w/o full appreciation of the diving hazards of his/her medical condition. The physical is no panacea in that regard as potential candidates may surepticiously or benignly not mention the problem to the physician, or physicians have been known to clear such individuals for diving provided 'they do not exceed x ft of depth.' The best route appears to be a very frank discussion with a diving savvy physician and, if necessary, a full pulmonary workup to ascertain that pulmonary function is normal when attack free. Then, if in the US, travelling to a more liberal environment for certification! Regards Esat ATikkan
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