What Are Probable Health Issues For Scuba Diving?

Scuba diving is a popular recreational watersport that allows a diver to dive up to 40 meters (130 feet ) of the dive depth. Scuba diving in Andaman offers excellent dive conditions to beginners or experienced divers throughout the year. The underwater dive conditions are harsh and the potential risk of life or health conditions can’t be denied. A proper training mechanism is a must under the supervision of an experienced diver to minimise the risk of underwater health problems.  

The change of underwater pressure when a diver ascends and descends, results in partial pressure of air breathed and may involve the risk of toxic gas effects, decompression sickness, and barotrauma. The common health issues of being underwater are ear problems, seasickness, dehydration, and sunburn. Fish, coral, and other marine life can get you cuts, scrapes, and other surface injuries. While fishline, debris, and exposed metal or wood are other threats.   

Severe Health Problems of Scuba Diving

Middle ear squeezes are one of the most common problems of scuba diving. This results in pain in your ear because of pressure. The higher pressure works opposite your body when you go deeper into the water. The problem arises when you are unable to equalize the pressure in your ears while diving. The ear pressure can be relieved by yawning, swallowing, and blowing with your nose and mouth closed, this process is called Popping. Squeezes are less common and affect your inner ear or sinuses.  

Following critical health conditions related to scuba diving

Inner ear barotrauma: The problem can occur from unbalanced ear pressure or a sudden descent in the water. The symptoms of Inner ear barotrauma are dizziness, nausea, ear pain or ringing, and hearing loss.  

Pulmonary barotrauma: This problem can occur while diving with a respiratory tract infection and from improper breathing as you ascend to the water’s surface. The symptoms of Pulmonary barotrauma are chest pain, shortness of breath, and hoarseness. The threat to life is also there. 

Decompression sickness: The problem can occur when you ascend from the deep water to the surface too quickly. This process releases nitrogen gas from your body and creates bubbles in your bloodstream. The bubbles may damage your body tissues and block blood vessels.

Decompression sickness may affect your lungs, brain, and spinal cord and include symptoms of chest pain, joint pain, breathing and bladder problems. Severe decompression sickness includes dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain, and lungs, and to get paralysed. Flying after decompression sickness may worsen the condition.          

Air embolism: The problem is a type of barotrauma or an effect of the bonds that occurs when the bubbles enter your bloodstream and travel to your brain. When the bubbles enter a vein, it is called a venous air embolism; if they enter an artery, it is called an arterial air embolism. Middle air embolisms include dizziness, confusion, trouble speaking, and numbness. You may face blindness, deafness, seizures or paralysis. Severe air embolism causes heart attack, stroke, and respiratory failure. 

Fortunately, severe air embolism problems from scuba diving are rare and you should seek medical attention if you have any symptoms listed above. You will be required hyperbaric oxygen therapy that consists of lying in a pressurized chamber or vessel. It feels similar to being underwater. The treatment helps to reduce or remove bubbles from your bloodstream.   

Important points to consider to be safe

The most terrible dive-related injuries or deaths happen to those who are new or go diving beyond their training and experience. It is always advised to dive within the limits of your expertise and level of training to be safe. Never initiate a dive that you are not comfortable with. 

Safe scuba dive rules include:

• Always dive with a buddy.
• Don’t scuba dive if you have a cold or congestion in your ears or nose.
• Pre-safety check your dive equipment to make sure everything is working well before your actual dive. 
• Avoid the consumption of drugs or alcohol before diving.
• Ask your doctor how diving can affect your health if you have specific health problems.
• Learn which fish, coral, and other marine life may be hazardous to prevent unexpected injury. Become familiar with underwater dive conditions, areas, local tides, currents, and dangers. 
• Follow all diving instructions. As you descend, make sure to equalize your ears and mask. Stay within the parameters of the dive table and computer at depth, and take proper safety stops. This information will be useful to avoid decompression sickness.  
• Never hold your breath while ascending. Your ascent should be slow, and steady, and breathing should be normal. 
• If you become afraid or confused while diving, never panic underwater. Stop, try to relax, and think through the problem. Ask for the help of your dive buddy or dive master. 
• Cave diving is the most dangerous form of diving. A diver with proper training, experience, and equipment should attempt it. 
• Always plan your dive and dive your plan. 
• If you don’t feel well or something unusual happened to your body after a dive, rush to the nearest emergency facility immediately.  
• Don’t fly for 12 hours after a no-decompression dive. If your dive requires decompression stops, don’t fly for at least 24 hours.