Diving with asthma

[wellred]

Hi all,

Im due to go on holiday at the end of this year and was thinking about doing some basic level diving.
As you know I have asthma. I haven't had an attack since I was around 14 (im 27 now). I am quite active, I gym 3
times a week which includes weights and at least 40 mins of cardio (around 700-800 calories minimum burned in a cardio session).
I haven't ever had to use my salbutimol inhaler as a reuslt of exercise although I usually take a puff before I start as a precaution.

THe only time I do need to take a puff outside that is 1st thing in the morning when I wake up or sometimes before I go to bed. Im not sure what triggers my early morning wheezing,
there is no phlem so is it perhaps allergies?

I was just wondering what sort of advice you can offer in regards to diving if you have asthma? I have heard there are plenty of divers that do have it and that it's more a case
of what sets off the wheezing be it allergies or cold. Some winters if I don't wrap up warm I get a bit tight chested but I think that's more down to me not dressing up properly.

Are there any specialised diving medical centres where I might be able to try out an oxygen pump they use so see how I might react?

Thanks

[wellred]

Doesn't sound pretty. I think I should be ok snorkeling as im essentially only below the surface of the water and im just breathing normal air. Shame though as I was really looking forward to it.

[Tammy2009]

Most of the "people with asthma" that dive are those who's asthma has gone into remission.  That would mean people who have not used their inhaler in over a year or two.  

Since you use your inhaler before exercise and still regularly in the night/morning I would also advice not to try.  The air you are breathing is dry and sometimes that is the trigger that exercises causes the spasming.  

It is no fun during or after if you have problems while diving.  I was stupid a couple of years ago and did some because I thought diving was awesome.  I have horrible times with my ears and never been able to properly release and regulate the pressure (aka I can't "pop" my ears and they very rarely do it on their own).  I thought I would be fine so I went diving anyway.  While .... long story short - massive pressure in my ears to the point of making me vomit afterwards and It took a full month for them to stop hurting.  so moral - sometimes you can't do things because of your body and listen to it!!  You see just as cool of things snorkelling :)  Plus you can dive as much as you can handle if you want to get closer.

[wellred]

Thanks for the response. That's dissapointing to hear but im glad I asked before setting out. I'll have to just stick to snorkelling.

[caregiver222]

People do dive who have asthma. People also play Russian roulette.

You can never know what will cause a spasm, essentially closing the airways. You will not be able to "stage" your surfacing and at the least will end up with nitrogen "bends" and possible paralysis.

The advice is to not consider diving.