Asthma and diving

[ScubaDocER]

Not that anyone cares... but here are the results of a Pulmonary Function Test I just had done yesterday...

The doctor told me "I show no signs of having asthma or any other pulmonary issue."

This again is an interesting result for me. Three different doctors over the years diagnosed me with asthma... and stated that it was allergen induced. It seems however that since there was no sign of asthma whatsover - asthma (according to the pulmonologist) has never been a problem for me.

Apparently I can and do get severe allergies which cause restrictive breathing... not not true asthma.

I'm posting this as a note to all of you who have had a doctor say to you "You have asthma." If you have not had the pulmonary functions test done, there is at least a chance that you do not have asthma. You may have severe allergies or as others on the board have pointed out - bronchitis or some other type of problem.

While it was a relief to have the test done (which by the way is the easiest medical test I've ever had to do) leaving no excuse to put it off... it brings into question the competency of three medical professionals over the years - all whom diagnosed and treated me the same way (all wrong.) So in closing, I encourage you not to accept a diagnosis of asthma unless your doctor has ordered a pulmonary functions test. This ismple test will bring you closer to the truth.

Happy Diving!

Congratulations on not having asthma . I forgot that I posted to this thread. I am glad that you were proactive enough to pursue the issue of you having asthma. I would encourage others to do the same. I have a student who was told she has asthma. I asked when her last attack was, she said when she was 6. She's currently 24. Turns out she wheezes when she is around cats. Not sure why she's still living with cats though. Not all wheezing is asthma. Typically people with asthma are born with it. Some develop symptoms of asthma (but not true asthma) due to specific allergens. It is important to differentiate between the two. If you wheeze in response to a specific allergens, avoid those allergens. If you were born with asthma, the you probably know most of your triggers. Make sure that you and your dive buddy are educated about the risks associated with diving with asthma. If you are a student, be honest with your Instructor regarding any medical conditions you may have. If you are not sure you have asthma, then seek the counsel of a Pulmonologist. They are best qualified to assess your lung function and to diagnosis true asthma from wheezing or reactive airway disease (RAD). Most medical professionals (and I am generalizing here) who are not pulmonologists who diagnosis asthma in patients are taking an educated guess that that is what you have based on your history and clinical presentation. That's not always the case. Seek an opinion from an expert in the field before you are labeled with a life long diagnosis that may not be true.

A medical clearance is an educated guess from a person trained in the field of medicine. It is not a mandate from God. It is not mystical law. It is an opinion. If you disagree with the opinion given, then seek additional assistance. Being "cleared" to dive does not mean that you will not have a medical issue occur during your dive. It suggests that your risks are probably low. Take it with a grain of salt. Use good judgment and common sense.

 

[KerriHMI]

Just my two pence worth.

I was diagnosed with asthma the month before my long awaited dive holiday to the Maldives. My asthma is fairly well controlled with low dose of steriods and I rarely take my Ventolin. I work of the basis that if I need my Ventolin I do not dive for at least 48 hours. As with any illness if I am feeling unwell, I do not dive.
Once I was diagnosed I started to work on my general fitness level and it has really paid off.

There was one incident recently when diving that my buddy and I were fighting the current and I started to feel very out of breath and had to signal for him to slow down. It was in my mind that this was related to my asthma and did not want to exert myself further. However when we surface my buddy/hubby said that he was just about to signal me to slow down at the same point as he was feeling the same way and he doesn't have asthma!!!!

I guess what I am trying to say is balance is the key, yes be aware that you have a condition that may place restrictions on your diving and be aware of the risks but at the same time appreciate the advantages of diving on general fitness and stress relief! I know that my asthma in no way interfered with my diving in the Maldives!!! Now back to the cold waters of Ireland!!!!

 

[Thalassamania]

The problem is not your getting out of breath, the problem is the likelihood of trapping air in an alveolar sac and suffering an embolism on ascent, despite the fact that you breathe normally at all times. This is neither something that you can predict nor is it something you can control. You are playing Russian Roulette, with an unknown number of chambers loaded.

 

[TSandM]

I would say that the majority of people who are living with asthma become pretty aware of their level of symptoms at any given time. If someone is well controlled and asymptomatic on regular medication, and has had no need for rescue medication at all, and has good exercise tolerance, the likelihood that they are going to end up embolizing underwater is pretty low, which is basically what both DAN and the Brits have concluded.

 

[geokr]

This has been a fascinating and informative thread and I want to thank all of the contributors for sharing their experiences and advice.

The reason I became interested in this topic is because I dive with someone who does have asthma, well controlled according to her, and she has never encountered any difficulties while I've known her. This includes both while flying and while diving and even during some fairly strenuous and prolonged exertion underwater. But, should she have an episode at 60'....what do I do? What are the proper steps for a dive buddy to take if she does have an attack? I intend to keep diving with her and would, of course, like to be prepared should something occur. Your advice on this would be most welcomed, not just for me but, I think, for all of us who dive.

 

[Thalassamania]

I would say that the majority of people who are living with asthma become pretty aware of their level of symptoms at any given time. If someone is well controlled and asymptomatic on regular medication, and has had no need for rescue medication at all, and has good exercise tolerance, the likelihood that they are going to end up embolizing underwater is pretty low, which is basically what both DAN and the Brits have concluded.

I can't quantify the odds, you can likely do that much better than I. My point was that getting out of breath is not the issue, possible embolism is, and just what the odds of an embolism are ... is not known.

 

[mikeguerrero]

I have asthma and mine is seasonal. When April comes and the pollens are released into the air my asthma commences. I have bad wheezing and I am very short of breath during these episodes.

Now the odd thing that I wish to share is that when I arrived at Monterey which is where I dive the asthma began as I walked down to the beach; I do shore dives which tax my body a great deal. As I entered the water and started my surface swim to my location as soon as I dropped down with reg in my mouth my asthma ended.

I feel because I am an asthmatic during seasons the compressed filter air changed my breathing. I was no longer breathing ambient air that had a large mixture of pollen and as soon as I dropped down into the water and began breathing compressed filtered air my asthma stopped.

When I finished my dive and got out of the water and started breathing the ambient air around me my asthma immediately returned and as I made it to my vehicle I needed to take a puff of my inhaler. Next time I will pop my reg in my mouth and see if it calms down my asthma.

MG

 

[Thalassamania]

Asthma and pollen allergy are not the same thing. I'd highly recommend that you find out out which you are suffering from. Pollen allergies can be treated as well as controlled.

An friend of mine who is also an allergist once told me that most of the people he saw who thought they had asthma actually were allergic to something, often dust mites or (believe it or not) cockroach frass.

 

[KerriHMI]

The problem is not your getting out of breath, the problem is the likelihood of trapping air in an alveolar sac and suffering an embolism on ascent, despite the fact that you breathe normally at all times. This is neither something that you can predict nor is it something you can control. You are playing Russian Roulette, with an unknown number of chambers loaded.

I am aware that getting out of breath is not the major danger however it is an issue. Especially for those who's asthma is exercise induced it is vital to avoid over exertion. On the treadmill in the gym you have your ventolin at hand should you feel your chest tight, you don't below the water. It is important to make anyone you dive with aware of this so the pace can be kept to a comfortable level.

 

[offthewall1]

Asthma and pollen allergy are not the same thing. I'd highly recommend that you find out out which you are suffering from. Pollen allergies can be treated as well as controlled.

An friend of mine who is also an allergist once told me that most of the people he saw who thought they had asthma actually were allergic to something, often dust mites or (believe it or not) cockroach frass.

I didn't think the day would ever come... that Thalassamania and I would agree on something... but since the day has arrived... I felt the need to point it out.

Read my post a couple back about being misdiagnosed with asthma... and how I highly recommend taking the simple step of seeing a Pulmonologist. You'll be glad you did... no matter what the findings...

Happy Diving!