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Just this afternoon I hada huge sneezing fit, afterward my left arm tingled and my left hand had pain as well. Could this indicate a PFO? Should I be worried? Up until an ACL injury about a month ago I was running a mile, doing weights and then doing 18 pool lengths (olympic pool) about 3 times a week with no issues.
If you had a sneezing fit [or coughing fit] right after a dive, I might be suspicious. That might be an interesting way of testing for a PFO - if it worked.
Dr Deco
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Michael R. Powell, M.S., Ph.D. "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in Knowledge always pays the best Interest." - Benjamin Franklin
There is the possibility that you had a paradoxical embolism, that is, a clot in the venous system that moves into the arterial system. A sneeze is one type of "Valsalva maneuver."
Emboli typically come from the heart or the carotid artery [in your neck] and move to the brain. They are termed paradoxical because it was considered a paradox that they could pass through the filter of the lung circulation. They actually pass through a PFO and bypass the lung.
Many individuals with migraines have a PFO. [My wife tells me about 50% of people with migraines.] Do you suffer from migraines?
Dr Deco
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Michael R. Powell, M.S., Ph.D. "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in Knowledge always pays the best Interest." - Benjamin Franklin
I used to, but haven't in a while (they went away after I stopped sleeping with my neck against the couch arm where a seam pressed on just the right area). As a youth I had cluster headaches but they went away at age 17.
I guess it depends on what you define as a "huge" sneezing fit. Some people actually hyperventilate transiently. This causes a transient drop in blood calcium which may manifest as tingling.
It seems quite unlikely that this is a manifestation of a PFO.
I agree with HBO_MD. I think this would be an extremely uncommon presentation for a PFO. And this comes from someone who closes these things for a living (I just closed one earlier today)
Along the same lines, with such professional talent assembled here, I wonder if turning blue in the face upon extreme exertion might be the sign of a PFO?
I saw this once in a dive student during a rescue class while they were hauling "victims" through the surf. He turned really, really blue, although he did not faint however.
Hi Guys,
One other thing in terms of the arm pain etc, again depending on how vigorous the sneeze fit was, is a neck problem. I suggest this due to the radiation of the pain, hand etc. If it was to persist, I would have someone look at it in terms of that possibility.
Now in terms of color change : turning a deep blue in the face while in the surf is almost certainly due to a combination of cold ( I assume it was cold and he was suited up elsewhere), +/- venous congestion if he was exerting himself...straining in other words. I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure he gets a lipstick color to match
Safe diving guys.
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