Total Anomalous Pulmonary Vein Return
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return is a condition where the veins returning blood to the heart from the lungs do not empty correctly into the arterial circulation. Children born with…
How To Travel With Lung And Heart Disease
Even if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, asthma, or heart disease and need an oxygen supply, you should be able to travel so…
Cardiac Surgery and Diving
Patients who have had successful coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty who wish to undertake sport diving should be allowed to participate in this activity.Those applicants wanting to do commercial or…
Arrhythmias: Risky Medications
Long QT Interval SyndromeCertain types of medications may put divers at risk for a dangerous cardiac rhythm. A study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Ackerman, M, et al. Mayo…
Pacemakers and Arrhythmias
Note: This material should be copied and taken to your physician for his review. This material should not be used as a basis for treatment decisions, and is not a…
Patent Foramen Ovale
PFO (Patent foramen ovale) is a persistent opening in the wall of the heart which did not close completely after birth (opening required before birth for transfer of oxygenated blood…
Mitral Valve Prolapse
'Floppy valve'There are thousands of divers with mitral valve prolapse who don't even know they have the condition -- and to be fair, most don't really have a problem. Mitral…
Valvular and Congenital Heart Disease
Patients that have valvular or some form of congenital heart disease have an excess strain situation that is particularly susceptible to the effects of increased exercise and blood shifting intoo…
Hypertension and Diving
Dive if Hypertension is Well-controlledIf you have mild, well-controlled hypertension with none of it's complications, you have nothing to worry about if you are diving or plan to dive. Well-controlled…
Cardiovascular Drugs and Diving
Guidelines to use in considering the relationships between all drugs and diving:Consider the condition/illness/disease for which the medication is being given. Go to our 'Fitness to Dive' web page and…