I'm not interested in debating either. I completely respect the medical advice you're giving in the thread... and I acknowledge you're level of education on the subject is far greater than my own. I am also appreciative of the fact you're not like so many others on the board who would be jumping down my throat right now.
My expertise on the subject comes from personal experience. You will find my posts relating to this subject on other SB threads.
Either I have been mis-diagnosed by three seperate doctors (all of whom have told me I have "mild" asthma, or you are wrong. By that I mean I have been told by three qualified Medical Doctors (one being a DAN doctor) that I have mild asthma. I have been diving for twelve years and thousands of dives around the world. Many of my dives have been working dives... under extreme physical exertion. Many times I have felt a difficulty breathing, begun wheezing (I'm assuming an asthma attack) underwater and I'm still here.
Based on the information you're providing to me in this thread, either I'm the luckiest man on earth... or I do not have asthma. Perhaps I simply overworked myself and do not have asthma. I do find it interesting that three medical doctors have diagnosed me with mild asthma without ever having me do the spiro test that is so talked about.
I also find it interesting that none of the three have told me not to dive or that diving was dangerous for me. Being an Instructor myself, I was already aware of the risks associated with asthmatic diving... and I am fully aware of what all of them are, including AGE.
What my whole point in this thread has been is to agree with you that there are associated risks... but that these risks are no different than all the others we take in our daily lives. We all have to make educated decisions... and quite honestly, I'd me happier dying doing something I loved, then growing old being hooked to a respirator because I could no longer breath on my own.
I think in the end, I must go to a doctor and insist on the Spiro test... to once and for all... after all these years determine if I truly have asthma... or if three doctors are wrong... and you're right. I'm hoping you're the one that's right... because if you are... I don't have asthma... I'm just a little out of shape.
Happy Diving... and thanks for the great posts