high Blood pressure and diving

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Cardazim.But its been a long while since I was on it.
I don't know his reasoning for switching me. If they are of the same family. I remember being very leery about the switch tho.
 
I think Ill probably go ahead and talk to my doc next trip down there. Our dive prospects are slowly diminishing as the oil slick in the gulf advances so this post may not needed at all.

I have figured out diving with all the medical issues I have and so far this is the only one that leaves me with questions. I was lucky the doc I had when I got my medical clearance form from the dive club was a diver and thought diving would benefit me greatly.
 
I think Ill probably go ahead and talk to my doc next trip down there. Our dive prospects are slowly diminishing as the oil slick in the gulf advances so this post may not needed at all.

I have figured out diving with all the medical issues I have and so far this is the only one that leaves me with questions. I was lucky the doc I had when I got my medical clearance form from the dive club was a diver and thought diving would benefit me greatly.
It sounds like you're pretty good about communicating with your medical team. That's very important. If you need a referral to a physician in your local area who has knowledge of dive medicine, Divers Alert Network can be helpful. Give 'em a ring even if you aren't a DAN member. For non-emergent medical questions, call 800-446-2671 or 919-684-2948, Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm (ET) .

You should also consider PMing TSandM. She's an ER doc and medical moderator here on SB.

Too bad about the oil slick. Perhaps you could plan a dive vacation elsewhere. :cool2:

Good luck with everything.
 
Bubbletrouble has spoken well with some good advice that I would echo here.

Your physician is of course the expert on medical things. The following is just my observations on life and not medical advice, or even knowledgeable discussion, and may not be relevant to your situation. Number one killer of SCUBA divers - Heart Attack. High Blood pressure increases the risk of coronary artery disease and with that comes an increased risk of heart attack and blood clots.

Medication may be effective at controlling high blood pressure and is a good tool in the doctors arsenal for managing it, but does not address the cause, just the symptom. There are many causes of high blood pressure including genetics, age, stress, lack of exercise, weight, diet etc. Most commonly in the USA high blood pressure comes from poor diet, too much salt, poor exercise habits and the resulting weight gain. Improving on the exercise front and the stress front by SCUBA diving more and doing other aerobic exercise (with doctors agreement) between dives (swimming, bicycling, running) and on the diet front by just eating healthier will normally lower the weight and with it the blood pressure. I know of several SCUBA divers who use to take blood pressure medicine before they started SCUBA diving weekly (or more often). Not saying that would work for you, just saying if your doctor clears you for aerobic exercise you may eventually reduce or eliminate your needs for the meds. I will also point out that you can be stick thin, exercise like a demon and still have high blood pressure and/or cholesterol due to other factors (stress, genetics etc). As always follow your doctors advice, but SCUBA diving can be an active part of your aerobic exercise program and blood pressure management regimen.

Example: Age 56, Height 6Ft., weight 145, BP 101/60 (it has gone up with age, I was 98/58). Ran marathons when I was 28 and yes I have genetics on my side). Dive most weeks, conditions permitting, often twice a week. Don't diet, just eat healthy, limit the junk food to once in a while and don't eat out too often. When I eat out I request they put half my meal in a to-go container before they serve me. Most restaurants give you way too much food (and we patronize restaurants that give you larger servings over those that give you smaller ones) and we tend to eat it because we were told to clean our plates. Side note, Burger King's Whopper Jr, the size hamburgers use to be in 1960, taste good and only cost $1.00 and it is all you need for lunch once you start eating right sized meals and adjust to it. I add a Value Meal (aka Kids) milk shake for $1.25 and have lunch for under $3.00 that fills me up, has a treat (milk shake) and is not too expensive either in the wallet or calories/fats (630 Total Calories Vs Whopper & Medium Shake 1190 Calories) department.
 
Hi Pasley,
My HB started after my liver transplant. Im sure its caused partly by my weight and partly because of the meds used for the post transplant care. I also have nerve damage in my fafe from trigeminal neuralgia and the drg I take for that causes weight gain. I am over weight but am working on that. I used to be 295 and am now 250. As for my diet I am a vegetarian(I do not eat meat,fish or eggs) My junk food intake is minimum, I do not eat fried foods. The only fast food joints I do eat at is taco bell(1 7layer burrito fills me up) and occasionally Wendys(burger without the meat).
Right now we are also working on getting the processed foods out of our diet(the boxed foods) and am eating more baked veggies. I also no longer cook with the veg oil , sparingly with canola and more so with light olive oil.
Exercise consists mostly of laps in the pool due to arthritis and fibromyalgia.

I am working on getting on getting the weight off. I need to readjust my eating tho as I had dipped down to 235 and was doing well, but during a shift in my husbands work, we moved we did end up living in a hotel for a bit and ate out too much. Im confident I can get that off tho.
 
I really don't have much to add to what Bubbletrubble has already said. If your cough is minor on the lisinopril, I suspect there won't be any particular problem with diving on it. It is quite possible to have a coughing fit through a regulator (I have done it) but it doesn't sound as though your cough is related to exertion at all.

As long as your symptoms are occasion coughing at night, I would stay on the same medication, rather than switch back and forth.

I'm assuming the physicians who are monitoring your immunosuppression have been fine with the idea of diving?
 
TSandM,
Yes they are. In fact the doc said it would be a good form of excerise for me so long as I did not over do in carrying the gear. The transplant and the immunosupressives for that are well in hand :) over 17yrs and no rejection. The only way it hampers my diving is I cannot lift/carry the BCD/tanks/weights out of the water due to a hernia. We have that worked out as I get my mask and fins on and get in the water, my husband passes the gear to me and I put it on in the water. If we have alot of chop, I put the gear on on the boat and he supports the tank for me as I walk to the edge and do my stepoff.
I do think Ill be ok as far as the coughing, it is not brought on with exertion at all. I stay well hydrated as well to avoid drying my mouth out and that also helps.
 
Hi Pasley,
My HB started after my liver transplant.... partly because of the meds used for the post transplant care. ...

As I said there are many causes for both the BP and any weight issues. When medication are the cause it can be tough. It sounds like you are working on it. Not sure about the vegan thing. I confess to being a carnivore, but to each their own.

If your diet is mostly vegetables and fruits that rather than grains that may be fine. But as you know grains (breads, pasta etc) are easily stored by the body for future use.

It sounds like you are doing what you need to be doing. Keep up the good work and if the doctor clears you SCUBA dive often.
 
I've been cleared for diving for several years :D .Sadly have not dove as much as I like but now that I have my own reg(got it friday) I can at least put in some pool time when ever I like.

I am getting away from the pasta and processed stuff, and am cooking(baking) more veggies now. Im not quite a vegan and don't think I ever could be. I love my milk and cheeses :)
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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