Saline Challenge

[cg16]

Next week i am going out on my first Open Water Dive. But i cant go untill i complete a Saline Challenge because about 2-3 years ago i had rare asthma attacks. But haven't had them since. If i fail the test i wont be able to go Open Water Diving. What is involved in the test?
Thanks in advance.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

Hi Welcome to Scubaboard. You might want to try the medical forum to ask your question.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forumdisplay.php?f=94


Either the Medical Question one or the Ask Dr. Deco.
Good luck with your test.

 

[Charlie99]

This is really a question you should be asking your doctor. Saline challenge test is a fairly generic test of asthma, not something related to scuba diving.

My crude layman's understanding of a saline challenge test is that it consists of you breathing through a nebulizer that generates a saline mist. Then you do a bunch of breathing tests (such as seeing how much air you can exhale in 1 or 2 seconds). It is checking to see whether or not the saline mist causes your bronchial/lung passages get narrower, thereby reducing your ability to breathe.