Author: aquanaut

Historic Contra-indication to divingTraditionally, asthma has been thought to be an absolute contraindication to diving. The classical thought is that the asthmatic has air-trapping associated with the constrictive airway disease,…

Clinical:Pulmonary involvement with langerhans cell histiocytosis is characterized by a granulomatous infiltration of the alveolar septae and bronchial walls by foamy histiocytes. The disorder is uncommon, accounting for only 3.4%…

HistoryThe same conditions that cause spontaneous pneumothorax can be deadly in the increased ambient pressures of diving - and even in the pressure changes that take place in pressurized aircraft.…

What is Cystic Fibrosis?Cystic fibrosis or 'mucoviscidosis' is an inherited condition where there is considerable thickening of the mucous production of the body in several places but with effects occurring…

What is Marfan's Syndrome?It seems inevitable that someone will want to scuba dive with every disease known to man and wonder if there is some reason not to. Marfan's Syndrome…

There are three obvious reasons for not diving:Disorders that may lead to altered consciousnessDisorders that inhibit the "natural evolution of Boyle's Law".Disorders that may lead to erratic and irresponsible behavior.PneumothoraxAny…

ScenarioA 25 year old divemaster made one dive to 40 feet for 38 minutes and then spent 3 hours and 45 minutes on the surface. His second dive was to…

What is pulmonary edema?Pulmonary edema is the sudden filling of the lungs with fluid, generally thought of as being caused by a failure of the left side of the heart…

Like having asthmatic attack all the time!The issue of whether a patient with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) should dive is very similar to the individual who has asthma. The…