Do People Who Have Asthma Can Scuba Diving?

Diving sports such as snorkeling and scuba diving have been popular lately. The reason, who can resist the charm of the underwater is so beautiful and unequaled? However, usually, people with asthma are hesitant to try this experience. Actually, people who have asthma may be diving or not, huh? What are the risks? Find out the answer below.

People who have asthma may be diving or not?

Asthma and diving to this day still continue to trigger a debate. Sports this one is considered by many people at risk for people with asthma. However, now the view is somewhat shifting. The proof, there are many doctors who allow asthma patients to try diving.

Why do many doubt that asthma may be diving or not? You see, asthma is a type of long-term or chronic disease of the respiratory tract. The disease is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways that cause shortness or difficulty breathing.

For people with asthma, their respiratory tract is more sensitive than people in general. When the lung is irritated by the trigger, the respiratory muscles will become tense and make the channel narrow. In addition, there will be an increase in the production of sputum which makes it more difficult to breathe.

Well, because breathing when you are under the sea is certainly very different from ordinary breathing on land, many people worry that diving can trigger symptoms in people who have asthma.

Read also: 3 Types of Asthma Inhalers and Their Different Functions

What is the difference between breathing on land and underwater?

The air inhaled by the divers is compressed (given a very high pressure) because of the pressure in the water. Underwater air pressure is denser than on land. Therefore, breathing air when you dive requires more effort to inhale and exhale.

If breathing air on the surface is like sucking air through a pipe, then breathe in the water depth like sucking honey through a pipe. The deeper you dive, the denser the air is inhaled. When you rise to the surface of the water after a dive, the air in the lungs will expand in order to lower the water pressure. After that, you can breathe again as easy as breathing air from a straw.

What might happen if someone with asthma dives?

You can visualize the airway from the nose to the lungs as a pipe. When a person has an asthma attack, his airway pipe will contract (so tight and stiff). In addition, the airway pipe will narrow as long as a person has an asthma attack. Therefore the air cannot get out and into the lungs as it should.

Well, this is what many feared and became the root of doubt whether people with asthma may be diving. If the asthma attack recurrent when you are underwater, you will more and more difficult to take a breath and supply air to the lungs. The result would be dangerous, such as sinking (can not directly rise to the surface).

Plus, there is the risk of air cannot get out of the lungs because the pipe is narrowed or obstructed. The air trapped inside the lungs will further increase the pressure that is already high enough underwater. This can be fatal.

Read also: 5 Most Effective Asthma Treatment for Children

So, whether people with asthma should not be diving at all?

Some people with asthma may be diving. This actually depends on the type of asthma experienced by a person and his medical record. Before diving, you should consult with your doctor, take routine lung health tests, and take a scuba diving course with the dive instructor to complete. Which will be examined by the doctor, among other types of asthma, how often (frequency) of asthma attacks occur, the treatment is undertaken, and your asthma history.

Well, if your asthma is triggered by exercise or cold temperatures, you should not do scuba diving, because the trigger is very accessible when diving. However, if you have asthma because of an allergy to something (eg dust or cat hair), your doctor may allow you to dive. The reason, these allergens will not be encountered while diving.

Remember, do not be desperate if you have not consulted a doctor, have not graduated from a scuba diving course, or if nobody has accompanied you during diving.

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