Asthma

[Robert]

can any one give me any idea of the rules regarding diving with asthma.

[Ben Panter]

Hi Robert,

I'm an asthmatic, but still manage to dive. There are a set of criterea regarding what sets it off - for me it is purely allergies, and I haven't needed to use ventolin for years. IIRC asthma caused by cold or exercise is a no-no.

Either way, a quick trip to a medical referee will sort you out with all the info you need. Link in the sticky post at the top of this thread.

Good luck,

Ben

[tony J]

can any one give me any idea of the rules regarding diving with asthma.
http://www.bsac.org/medical/r_asthma.htm

[Matt-75]

Yes you can dive with asthma, but you need to be really good at common sense.

If you dont feel upto a dive you dont dive, its plain and simple. Try and exercise a lot to improve your overall lung function. I tend to run a lot (usually with a few bricks in the rucksack, but im apparently nuts). :P

At the end of the day, if you use your head, and keep quite fit, their should be no reason why you shouldnt dive.

So my best advice, run a mile a day, then when you can do that and find it easy, do 2 miles a day, etc, until you can do 4-5 miles a day. Then start adding the weight to the rucksack.

[Cokey]

Hey guys

Rather than repeating this thread I thought I'd ask my question on here.

I have read the link above regarding BSAC's medical section on Asthma and diving. I read that "Asthmatics may dive if they have allergic asthma but not if they have cold, exercise or emotion induced asthma."

Now then... I do suffer from Asthma but it is seasonal and is linked to my hayfever, so in that respect it is "allergic asthma" but during my hayfever seasons I have been wheezing following exercise (mainly those linked with being in open spaces near fields such as walking, have never been wheezy after swimming which I am competent at) and I can also get wheezy following heavy laughter - does this count as "emotion induced asthma"?

I know you guys are not qualified and I will need to contact the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee to get the medical clearance thing. But I thought I'd throw this open to you guys.

(I have only ever suffered from Hayfever & Asthma in the UK despite going on holiday during sunny months. Also although I have an inhaler I have never been officially diagnosed because I have never had a peak flow reader at home to keep a record. So I don't know if on my medical notes it says "asthma" or just "difficultly breathing during times of severe hayfever".)

[TerryH]

Yes you can dive with asthma, but you need to be really good at common sense.

If you dont feel upto a dive you dont dive, its plain and simple. Try and exercise a lot to improve your overall lung function. I tend to run a lot (usually with a few bricks in the rucksack, but im apparently nuts). :P

At the end of the day, if you use your head, and keep quite fit, their should be no reason why you shouldnt dive.

So my best advice, run a mile a day, then when you can do that and find it easy, do 2 miles a day, etc, until you can do 4-5 miles a day. Then start adding the weight to the rucksack.

You really need to be careful with this sort of advice Matt. There are several
forms of Asthma and just because you may have a way to sort out your
type, doesnt mean another person can self-diagnose and copy you.

The type of Asthma needs to be identified and when it is a diving doc make
the yes or no decision. Remember air breathed at depth wants to expand on
the ascent. Not a good idea when you have a restricted air flow during an
attack.

The ONLY awnser to this, is see a man who knows and that wont be found
on this forum. See a diving doc.

T.

[ardhill]

The ONLY awnser to this, is see a man who knows and that wont be found on this forum. See a diving doc.
I have a previous history of asthma, so had go see a diving doc. I must admit, I was a bit concerned 'cause I though he would say - no way. But he did a number of tests and signed me off as fit to dive. He also gave me some advice on what to look out for.

We get concerned about going to a doc, because we expect him or her to say no. But a diving doc is generally also a diver, and knows how much it means to people to be able to dive, so is likely to give a genuine medical answer and not just a "no, that does sound too good".

So, as Terry says - get an appointment with a diving doc. They can do the appropriate tests and give you a realistic appraisal of your own situation. If you don't get an 'all clear', there will be a good reason for it which is worth paying attention to.

[Cokey]

Totally agree that the only way to truly know is to speak to a medical diver doc. I have to wait till tomorrow afternoon to give him a call.

Lol perhaps if I can't do this I could take up knitting :D