asthma and diving

a friend would like to learn to dive, however they suffer from emotion induced asthma after a traumatic experience a few years ago. the asthma is controlled by the use of an inhaler. they can swim happily without suffering an attack or without requiring the use of an inhaler.

i think i'd be correct in assuming that to get the go ahead for diving then a medical referee will need to be consulted, however, would this form of asthma preclude taking a try dive?

i think i'd be correct in assuming that to get the go ahead for diving then a medical referee will need to be consulted, however, would this form of asthma preclude taking a try dive?

I agree regarding the go-ahead for diving.

The BSAC's disclaimer says,
"Anyone with a medical history of ..........., and lung or respiratory didorder, ........ should not contemplate taking up this sport." and later "on the understanding that persons taking part ...... do not suffer from any of the disqualifying conditions mentioned above."

You could ask HQ, when you would in my experience get a straight answer, pronto. Alternatively, you might take account of the interminable debate about what asthma disqualifies and what does not, and rely on the 100m swimming test.

People will tell you all sorts about themselves. They don't always know fully, exclusively and accurately what is their own medical condition. (I wouldn't claim to know mine.) They don't always tell, either!

HTH

Mike

a friend would like to learn to dive, however they suffer from emotion induced asthma after a traumatic experience a few years ago. the asthma is controlled by the use of an inhaler. they can swim happily without suffering an attack or without requiring the use of an inhaler.

i think i'd be correct in assuming that to get the go ahead for diving then a medical referee will need to be consulted, however, would this form of asthma preclude taking a try dive?

I hope that a medical referee will answer your question more appropriately, however, it does seem to me that 'emotion induced asthma' in this case sounds very much like stress or panic attacks induced hyperventilation. A tendency to anxiety or panic attacks which involve physical manifestations such as hyperventilation does not sound a good starting point to me on the grounds that scuba diving does require diver self reliance and a cool head in problem solving, which can at times be very taxing on the stress levels. The fact that attacks are controlled with an inhaler is in my view a red herring, as it does not control the root cause of the problem, which seems to have a psychological trigger. Any medical view out there?

Jeanne

a friend would like to learn to dive, however they suffer from emotion induced asthma after a traumatic experience a few years ago. the asthma is controlled by the use of an inhaler. they can swim happily without suffering an attack or without requiring the use of an inhaler.

i think i'd be correct in assuming that to get the go ahead for diving then a medical referee will need to be consulted, however, would this form of asthma preclude taking a try dive?

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I'm no doc but I know a little about asthma (experience)

Do you mean your friend started having asthma after some sort of shock or trauma (mental or physical) or do you mean they get asthma when stressed, they are quite different triggers even if the result is the same.

Generally asthma caused by allergies and well controlled seem to be acceptable in divers, regardless of how the allergy was initially triggered, especially considering the filtration air goes through to get into a cylinder.

However, if your friend get asthma when doing exercise or when contronted by stressful situations, I wonder if it a good idea that they take up diving...

I would be last one to suggest they shouldn't or couldn't but I think it needs some serious thought for thier own safety.

Dive Safe :-)

thanks for all the replies guys. i've already made the recommendation to talk to a medical referee, but will re-affirm that anyway.

as far as swimming goes, that poses no problems whatsoever.
any views on the try dive? the only downside i can see is that they become hooked and then can't take it any further becuase of the asthma.

"My inhalers night and morning up till now have averted any attack and is well under control. Cold air usually makes it difficult to breathe and in places where it is dusty - in which case it could be allergic. Stress or panic doesn't affect me at all really "

from this, it would seem that the asthma is allergic, but strangely was instigated by trauma....

thanks for all the replies guys. i've already made the recommendation to talk to a medical referee, but will re-affirm that anyway.

as far as swimming goes, that poses no problems whatsoever.
any views on the try dive? the only downside i can see is that they become hooked and then can't take it any further becuase of the asthma.

"My inhalers night and morning up till now have averted any attack and is well under control. Cold air usually makes it difficult to breathe and in places where it is dusty - in which case it could be allergic. Stress or panic doesn't affect me at all really "

from this, it would seem that the asthma is allergic, but strangely was instigated by trauma....

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Its not strange at all.

Many physical health issues are kicked off by shock and or truma. I suspect the allergic reaction was lurking under the surface - it just needed a catalyst. Bad Luck.

Proper medical advice is a good idea.

Good Luck
;-)

A medical referee referral is essential here. Do you (figuratively) really wish to dive with someone in whom the asthma is triggered by cold air, particularly when the gas from the regulator is expanding and then hitting the back of the throat in a nice cold state? Also, one attack triggered by emotion can lead to another, and the last thing that one wants in a sticky situation is one's diving buddy suddenly having an asthma attack.