Contents:
- Medical Video: Risks of Scuba Diving With Asthma
- People who have asthma can diving or not?
- What is the difference between breathing on land and under water?
- What might happen if people with asthma dive?
- So, can people with asthma not dive at all?
Medical Video: Risks of Scuba Diving With Asthma
Diving sports like snorkeling and scuba diving it's been popular lately. Because, who can reject the underwater charm that is so beautiful and incomparable? However, usually people who have asthma are hesitant to try this experience. Actually, people who have asthma may dive or not, huh? What are the risks? Find out the answer below.
People who have asthma can diving or not?
Asthma and diving to date still continue to spark debate. This one sport is considered by many to be risky for people with asthma. However, at present this view has shifted somewhat. The proof, there are many doctors who allow asthma patients to try diving.
Why do many doubt asthma can diving or not? Look, asthma is a type of long-term or chronic disease in the respiratory tract. This disease is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways which cause tightness or difficulty breathing.
For people with asthma, the respiratory tract is more sensitive than people in general. When the lungs are irritated to the trigger, the muscles of the respiratory tract will become tense and make the channel narrow. In addition, there will be an increase in phlegm production which makes it more difficult to breathe.
Well, because breathing when you are under the sea is certainly very different from ordinary breathing on land, many people worry that diving can trigger symptoms in people who have asthma.
What is the difference between breathing on land and under water?
The air inhaled by divers is compressed (very high pressure) because of the pressure in the water. Underwater air pressure is more dense than on land. Therefore, breathing air when you dive requiresthere is more effort to inhale and exhale.
If you breathe air on the surface like sucking air through a pipe, breathing in the depths of the water is like sucking honey through a pipe. The deeper you dive, the more air you breathe in.
When you rise to the surface of the water after diving, the air in the lungs will expand so that it can reduce water pressure. After that, you can breathe again as easily as breathing in the straw.
What might happen if people with asthma dive?
You can imagine the airway from the nose to the lungs as a pipe. When someone experiences asthma attack, the airway pipe will contract (become tense and stiff).
In addition, the air pipe will narrow as long as someone has an asthma attack. Because of that the air can't get out and into the lungs as it should.
Well, this is a lot of fear and a root of doubt whether people with asthma can dive. If a recurrent asthma attack while you are under water, you will find it more difficult to breathe and supply air to your lungs. The result is certainly dangerous, for example drowning (can not directly rise to the surface).
Plus, there is a risk that the air cannot get out of the lungs because the pipe is narrowed or blocked. The air trapped in the lungs will increase the pressure that is already quite high under water. This can be fatal.
So, can people with asthma not dive at all?
Some people with asthma may dive. This actually depends on the type of asthma experienced by someone and his medical record. Before diving, you should consult with a doctor, undergo a routine lung health test, and take a diving course (scuba diving) with the diving instructor completely.
What will be examined by a doctor include the type of asthma that is affected, how often (frequency) an asthma attack occurs, treatment taken, and your history of asthma.
Well, if your asthma turns out to be triggered by exercise or cold temperatures, you can't do scuba diving, because this trigger can be found when diving.
However, if you have asthma due to something allergic (such as dust or cat hair), your doctor may allow you to dive. Because the allergen will not be found when diving.
Remember, don't be reckless diving if you haven't consulted a doctor, haven't graduated from a scuba diving course, or if no one accompanies you while diving.
