Diving with Asthma

[Scubaru_Steve]

So all my life I have had asthma. Mild but not severe. Before I took my training I had to get the waver to clear all medical issues and my parents above all were worried about the effects of being 40+ feet underwater breathing from a pressurized dry air tank. To date I have been on 7 dives and have yet to get more than dry mouth. Does anyone else suffer from asthma and have any cases of problems below?

 

[The_Ghost]

my wife has asthma. She had issues...but not asthma related so she couldn't get certified. :/ It was a sad day but also a blessing in disguise too haha.

 

[Aigtbootbp]

If you have it under control it will not be a problem.
How and when is your asthma aggravated? Is it allergy related? exercise related?
This can make a huge difference.

 

[ReneeDr]

My husband has had asthma all of his life. He has dove all of his adult life with no problems. He takes his albuterol just before entering the water just to make sure , if he feels even a bit of asthma. But, his is not exercise enduced type, only chronic asthma for unknown reasons.

 

[Scubaru_Steve]

If you have it under control it will not be a problem.
How and when is your asthma aggravated? Is it allergy related? exercise related?
This can make a huge difference.

Both, I have very very bad allergies...took the prick test in 2nd grade, had allergy shots for 7 years, took the prick test again and nothing changed. I am on 5 medications during the spring for allergies, and it does effect my asthma. It is also exercise induced. But usually from either A) Running for a long time or B) When it's cold.

My husband has had asthma all of his life. He has dove all of his adult life with no problems. He takes his albuterol just before entering the water just to make sure , if he feels even a bit of asthma. But, his is not exercise enduced type, only chronic asthma for unknown reasons.

See I was worried about the effects of albuterol on a dive. Wasn't sure how the effects of the drug + going down to 40+ ft could have an effect on me. So far all I get from diving is dry mouth, which is pretty common.

 

[sardiverdan]

You can buy a humidifier for your second stage to get rid of dry mouth. They run about 100 bucks or so if i can recall. It is just a little valve with a cotton wick in it that you get wet before the dive and put the cap back on and your good to go. Not sure if I would use this in an ice dive application.

 

[sardiverdan]

Sorry,
I guess they have gone up over the years. They are now in the 160 range.

Apollo Bio-Filter Regulator Moisture System

 

[Scubaru_Steve]

That's interesting, I was toying with building some sort of underwater water bottle to squirt some moisture in, but to have the air most before it reaches my mouth should def help. Thanks!

 

[teriandcompany]

I have had asthma for as long as I can remember. I've never had a problem with it. In fact, it's far less of an issue for me when diving because the warm humid air at my preferred dive locations is great - I've never had an attack or tightness. It is a bigger deal for me to go out running in cold weather . Just keep it under control routinely and have fun!

 

[dolesorchard]

I have severe allergy induced asthma. It took years for my allegy specialist to get me to try a preventative corticosteroid inhaler, but when I did it changed my life. While on this inhaler I have no asthma. It may be something to try.