Asthma drugs and diving

[barry smith]

Hi. a friend of mine was thinking of starting to dive. He has mild asthma and uses the following drugs to treat it beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol inhalers ("Becotide" and "Ventolin".

Does anyone know if it is possible for him to dive or if is a complete no no.

Thanks

Barry

[ric morte]

Hi. a friend of mine was thinking of starting to dive. He has mild asthma and uses the following drugs to treat it beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol inhalers ("Becotide" and "Ventolin".

Does anyone know if it is possible for him to dive or if is a complete no no.

Thanks

Barry

Hi Barry,

I cannot answer your question but here are some links that might prove useful, if only for you to become more aware of the issues surrounding asthma and diving.

Dan Europe have a section on asthma : <a href="http://www.daneurope.org/eng/faq9.htm" >http://www.daneurope.org/eng/faq9.htm</a>

Also see the various posts on scubaboard : <a href="http://www.scubaboard.com/t33250/s97f630e264418760b02bd4106da1b6b7.html" >http://www.scubaboard.com/t33250/s97f630e264418760b02bd4106da1b6b7.html</a>

There was also a thread on diverforum which might be of interest : <a href="http://www.diverforum.co.uk/talkforums/medicaltalk/posts/2368.html" >http://www.diverforum.co.uk/talkforums/medicaltalk/posts/2368.html</a>

There is also probably some information to be found on scubadoc :
<a href="http://scuba-doc.com" >http://scuba-doc.com</a>

I understand that Ventolin is a bronchodilator (please someone correct me if this is wrong) and there are views that the use of this type of drug may reduce the filtering activity of the lungs to microbubbles thus addmitting them to the arterial supply, especially during ascent and off-gassing. In short there would be a greater risk of DCI. (Again, if anyone has any further information on this, I for one would be interested in learning more).

Almost all the references you will come across encourage the individual concerned to consult a medical referee or diving doctor. So much depends on the individual (such as stress-related symptoms) that a 'generic' yes/no answer is probably unrealistic.

Best idea is to get your friend to see a diving doctor - it might cost a few pounds but it will be worth it. Your friend will be asked to take a medical in any case before starting diving and asthma has to be declared at the outset regardless of agency.

Good luck,

Ric

[DeepDigit]

Hi. a friend of mine was thinking of starting to dive. He has mild asthma and uses the following drugs to treat it beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol inhalers ("Becotide" and "Ventolin".

Does anyone know if it is possible for him to dive or if is a complete no no.

Thanks

Barry
------------------------------------------------------------
The inhalers you indicate are standard issue for most asthmatics....

I have used these for a number of years and my diving medicals have never been refused. In fact slightly high blood pressure is more of a concern to both myself and the doc.

It's never been indicated to me that either drug would increase the chances of DCI and I have been doing 50M+ accelerated deco dives without problem for several years now.

I would believe the docs would want to know more of the Asthma condition - is it triggered by allergies or some other problem? How often does he have attacks and how controlled are they, do the inhalers work etc. no so much about the inhalers themselves, although there are some newer better options to becotide these days.

Get a proper diving medical done by a doc with experience of diving medicine. I would probably bet he'd be fine.

Dive Safe :-)

[dave covey]

Get a proper diving medical done by a doc with experience of diving medicine. I would probably bet he'd be fine.

I receive enquiries every week to the effect that " I've got a customer on (named drug) for asthma-can he/she dive?" & in most cases we have to decline due to not knowing sufficient information on the persons case history (from experience,tourists tell porkies in order to dive etc). My message to sufferers of asthma/diabetes intending to dive is to get a Med report from THEIR Doctor, as he is the person who can accuratly decide yes or no.

HTH

[Bob Fry]

It depends. If your friend is an allergic asthmatic then he'll probably get a medical from whoever unless there are other factors. If he is a cold, stress related, or exercise related asthmatic, then he will be treated as if he were a dead man walking, and even a medical referee (and it WILL BE a medical referee) will take persuading even to take his money, be the symptoms ever so ephemeral and transient. I speak from experience. There is some very unscientific thinking in this field by those who get to say wether you can train to dive. NOTE, not wether you CAN go and dive!
There are medical referees that will assess properly, but some expense and travel is involved. BSAC are very rigid on this subject, but I don't resent paying the money, as I'm the only one in my branch with a ticket from a competent authority that says that I AM fit to dive! What I do resent is that my own doctor, who is a specialist in diving medicine, is not allowed to certify me fit as he is not a diving medical referee, only the local hyperbaric consultant! Just "No" isn't good enough. Make them justify it.


Hi. a friend of mine was thinking of starting to dive. He has mild asthma and uses the following drugs to treat it beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol inhalers ("Becotide" and "Ventolin".

Does anyone know if it is possible for him to dive or if is a complete no no.

Thanks

Barry