How to Prevent Asthma Attacks When Scuba Diving?

No sport comes without its own risks and hazards. In scuba diving, asthmatics are predisposed to heightened levels of risk among those categorized as high-risk under this recreational sport; particularly the risk of contracting pulmonary barotrauma and air embolism. Nonetheless, asthma should never be a hindrance to a fun, underwater adventure.

If you happen to be an asthmatic and yet interested to engage in open water scuba diving, you might want to digest the following information to learn about pertinent risk factors and triggers; how these can be controlled or prevented and if your present health profile merits you the right to engage in a few recreational dives.

1. Mild and Controlled Asthma. Diving physicians generally allow patients inflicted with mild and/or controlled asthma to go scuba diving. Mild and controlled types of asthma include inactive asthma and another one controlled by maintenance medications only (not by bronchodilators). However, if you have not been diagnosed with either mild and/or controlled asthma, it would be to your health's best interest to seek physician's advice for the recommendation of maintenance medication that would help control the manifest of asthma.
   


2. 
   Asthma Triggers. Individual sufferers succumb to different triggers where allergic asthma (food, medication, dust and pollen, among others) predisposes the patient to lesser risks when scuba diving. Meanwhile, if asthma attacks are triggered by strenuous exercise, cold temperatures or pent up emotions; it would not be a good idea to pursue scuba diving. Nonetheless, in the case of an overwhelming desire for this extreme sport, you could instead request from your physician the prescription of medications formulated to keep asthma attacks at bay despite its triggers.
   


3. 
   Medication. If instances of asthma attacks are controlled by maintenance medications such as steroids, scuba diving risks are greatly reduced. On the other hand, if bronchodilators are the only means of control for random asthma attacks, you might want to reconsider intentions of engaging in the said sport. Moreover, if asthma attacks have been far in between; though fears of its manifest in the course of the dive persistently bother you, start taking maintenance medicine at least a couple of weeks before the scheduled dive.
   


4. 
   Physical Examination. If pertinent fitness qualifications (in line with the conduct of scuba diving) have not yet been determined, submit to a physical examination and Spirometry for a comprehensive evaluation of your condition.

Utter recklessness can endanger a sufferer's life a few feet of sea water below the surface. Seeking proper medical attention and learning more about the nature of this respiratory condition can help asthmatic divers enjoy the sport without putting their lives on the line. Just remember to always exercise caution and make informed decisions through the counsel of qualified health care providers. Moreover, it would be good for asthmatic divers to get by with quality scuba equipment, particularly a high performance scuba regulator such as the Aeris AT 400 Pro Regulator [http://www.scubasuppliers.com/site/1408308/product/30.0410] which comes designed with an over balanced diaphragm first stage and pneumatically balance second stage; thereby allowing the scuba diver level inhalation effort as multiple levels are cruised on the water column.