Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common afflictions for people in our society today. Millions of individuals are affected with it and many suffer from more than one symptom of the disease at the same time. High blood pressure and heart disease can be serious and even life threatening, and this is especially true when it comes to diving. Diving requires a healthy heart. There is no way around it. Despite the fact that diving is often presented as an easy and low energy sport, this is simply not the case – at least not always. All divers have tranquil moments when they seem to float weightlessly in the water, but, barring any exceptionally controlled conditions, all divers also experience times in which a large amount of energy is required. This might be swimming in strong currents, swimming to the boat once they have surfaced, getting tangled in fishing net, or any emergency situation that can arise.
The heart has to be strong for diving and the cardiovascular system must be prepared for it. When people suffer with cardiovascular disease, there are a number of medications that will take care of the symptoms of the disease, leaving a person healthy enough to dive, provided that the heart can handle it. However, these medications can pose significant risks for the diver and these must be taken seriously. Even if a diver has started their medication and has taken a heart stress test and passed, they may not be able to dive if the side effects from their medication are severe enough and contraindicate diving. There are medications for high blood pressure, to regulate the heart rhythm, and to thin the blood. Let's take a look at the potential side effects of these and how they can affect diving.
Beta-blockers are a common medication used to treat high blood pressure, but they have the potential side effect of reducing the heart's capacity to handle exercise. For this reason, if you are taking beta-blockers you should have a heart stress test done to determine whether or not your heart can withstand the exercise level required for diving. ACE’s are often given to people who exercise frequently because it has a lesser effect on the ability of the heart to withstand exercise. However, ACE’s can cause a cough and airway swelling, both of which could be very problematic for divers. Calcium channel blockers generally cause no adverse effects for divers with one possible exception. Sometimes these medications can cause a person to experience low blood pressure and dizziness when changing positions. Finally, diuretics have no adverse effects for divers. These are used to lower the amount of fluid and salt in the body, which reduces the pressure in the blood vessels. The only potential problem with these is that the risk of dehydration is slightly higher, which may increase the risk of getting decompression illness. Drinking plenty of fluids is very important when taking diuretics.
The above medications are all used for treating high blood pressure. There are also antiarrhythmics, which can be used to regulate the heart beat. These medications are generally not a contraindication to diving, but there is a risk of injury to the heart if there is exercise coupled with low potassium. A doctor or dive physician should be consulted to ensure that diving is safe for anyone taking antiarrhythmics. Another type of medication that people with cardiovascular disease often take is anticoagulants or blood thinners. This can be as simple as Aspirin or can be any prescribed anticoagulant. Diving while taking anticoagulants is extremely risky because of the potential for bleeding. If a person experiences an injury or ear or sinus squeeze during the dive, bleeding may be profuse. It may take more time for the injury to be treated because the diver must surface first and there could be a great deal of blood lost. If decompression illness occurs, there may be excessive bleeding in the brain or in the spinal cord.
There are many people who dive with cardiovascular disease. As long as your doctor clears you to dive, you may do so, but remember that the most common health problem that leads to diving fatalities is cardiovascular disease. There are ways in which you can diminish the risk of either developing cardiovascular disease or minimizing its effects in your life. These include quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet that includes meat and dairy from pasture raised animals and fresh fruits and vegetables, and exercising regularly to ensure a strong heart. No matter what, if you have cardiovascular disease, then it is crucial that you have your heart tested regularly to ensure that it can handle the level of exercise required for diving. Monitor your reaction to medications and if there are any adverse reactions your doctor may be able to switch you to a different one. Once you have your symptoms under control, have a strong heart, and have clearance from your doctor, you can take the plunge and enjoy diving worry-free.