Breathing Difficulty
Breathing Difficulty While Diving
Treating Decompression Illness
It is not common to develop a decompression related illness, but if you do, you should know something about the different forms of treatment for decompression sickness (DCS) or arterial gas embolism (AGE).
Improving Air Consumption
I recently received a query from a diver who is concerned because he uses his air supply faster than his diving partners.
Q&A on Orthopedic Problems and Diving
Back Pain Improves after Diving
Mosquito
In the past few years we have experienced a resurgence of mosquito-borne illness in the U.S., Central America and in tropical South America.
Making Advances in Dive Medicine
In June of this year, scientists, physicians and other health care professionals interested in diving medicine attended the annual meeting of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in Stockholm, Sweden.
An End to Decompression?
If you have been a diver for any period of time you understand the importance of proper decompression.
Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines
In the past several years, a variety of medications have become available without prescription in the form of dietary supplements.
Coronary Angioplasty, Stents and Diving
We have received a number of queries about diving after having a balloon angioplasty with stents implanted in the coronary arteries.
Diving Medicine and Managed Care
A diver recently sent me an e-mail about an odd symptom that he experienced after diving. He is an experienced diver who noted vertigo, hearing loss, nausea and vomiting after a dive.
Oxygen and Diving
Nearly all of the energy-producing reactions that we are familiar with in our daily lives involve the combination of a fuel with oxygen to produce energy.
Long Term Diving Effects
Keeping dives to reasonable depths and times will minimize the risk for bubble formation, and eliminate concern for a PFO effect.
Hard Hats Off to Diving Docs
During 1999, I had the opportunity to visit two Navy diving schools and teach military physicians about diving medicine.
Letters from Readers
Older compressors can leak fine oil mist into the compressed air, and the oil droplets cause bronchial irritation, fever and cough.
Hypertension and Diving
Hypertension (high blood pressure) affects more than 12 million Americans, and when untreated causes serious illness and shortens life. Questions often arise about diving with hypertension while taking medication.
Advances in Diving Medicine
Interesting data continue to come from the Navy diving experience
during the recovery of the wreckage of TWA Flight 800.
Ear Barotrauma
One of the most discussed problems with diving is that of ear injuries....
Antibiotics and Diving
With an increasing number of divers traveling out of the country, it is common to find them carrying a variety of medications to manage illness in places where medical care may not be available....
Hyperbaric Oxygen
There are many uses for an hyperbaric chamber other than treatment of diving accidents.
Atrial Fibrillation
The most frequently asked questions regarding diving and the heart concern atrial fibrillation.
Bone Injuries From Diving
Bone necrosis (dysbaric osteonecrosis) is a well known long term consequence of diving. There are several theories on why.
Freediving
Most of us don't find sport diving equipment excessive but others find the simplicity of freediving a significant advantage.
Ears and Diving
Ear problems occur during descent because of Boyle's Law, which dictates that the volume of the air space in the middle ear will shrink as pressure increases unless equalization occurs.
Inquiring Readers Write
This series of questions and answers is a summary of several letters received from readers.
Cholesterol and Blood Vessels
I was recently asked how we can screen divers to prevent heart attacks while diving. Should we do stress tests, electrocardiograms or other procedures to be sure a diver is not at risk?
Can Freediving Cause DCS?
A reader recently asked me if freedivers ever developed decompression sickness.
Keeping Blood Vessels Healthy
I am frequently asked about diving by those with blockage of an artery.
Lyme Disease
If you dive in freshwater lakes or the coastal areas of the northeastern United States, around Minnesota and Wisconsin, or along the Pacific Coast of Northern California, you should be aware of tick bites and Lyme disease.
Muscle Cramps
Problems with skeletal muscles while diving usually center around fatigue, cramps and blunt injury.
Squeeze
Perhaps the most troublesome part of diving is the continuous need to avoid the consequences of pressure changes associated with depth.
Vertigo
Treatment of vertigo associated with diving should be based on an understanding of its cause.
Food and Fitness
Reasonable nutritional goals can be achieved without going to extremes.
Medical Update From the UHMS
Last June, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society held its annual meeting and new information about current research was presented.
Diving and Blood Thinners
We have received a number of inquiries recently about divers who take the anticoagulant Coumadin.
Flying After Diving
I recently received several questions regarding the proper time to fly after diving.
Diving for Seniors
As time goes on, we need to consider the changes that occur and modify our diving to accommodate reduced physical conditioning, development of chronic illness and less mobility of muscles and joints.
|
