High Blood Pressure and Beta Blockers.

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>I have a friend who is interested in diving but he has been diagnosed with high blood pressure sometime back. &nbsp;He is taking beta blockers for the condition.

He has been advised to see a specialist with regard to whether he will be able to take up scuba diving or change his medication to something that is more suitable. &nbsp;

Can anyone advise or suggest a specialist around the South west region or around South Wales.

Cheers,
Daz

[Fiona]

<font color='#0000FF'>Daz

If you go to the BSAC.com website and look under member services there is a section on medical matters and there is a list of Medical referees.

Maybe he could try one of those.

Fiona

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Thankss Fiona.

I have sent a list of the ones local to him and hopefully he can get a resolution to this.

Daz

[Jay]

This is in no way aimed at your mate Daz but it got my thinking, why is it that people who are so unfit, over weight etc for ANY other sport think that they are well suited to diving? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed this.

To date I have DM'd for 3 long distance lorry drivers (who on average smoked 80 cigs a day each and got out of breath tying their shoe laces), a lady who was so overweight we needed to join two weight belts together and attach 20kgs of lead just to get her under (I shit you not!) and a Scandanavian who was so seasick he started throwing up even before he got on the boat.

[parahandy]

<font color='#0000FF'>

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Heads Up @ June 16 2003,18:05)]This is in no way aimed at your mate Daz but it got my thinking, why is it that people who are so unfit, over weight etc for ANY other sport think that they are well suited to diving? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed this.

No youre not the only one, &quot;Heads&quot; likewise not a dig at DAZ

In the case of PADI their Medical Form is very much reliant on those completing it to tell the truth.  Sure it says on certain conditions if you answer YES to having a certain medical condition you should be refered to a medical referee before being passed to dive.

In reality like you i've seen a lot of Trainees who clearly havn't the background level of fitness to dive reach the open water stage and are clearly a liability due to lack of fitness.. So how do they get to this stage? .

As unpleasant as it is,there are still instructors out there &quot;in the minority&quot; who are prepared to sign anyone up, for a course fee. Even when theres a question mark over fitness.

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>I agree with your comments and yep it is all too common to see people who are really unfit (and weight is not a indication of this) diving.  You know the ones,  those who struggle to walk 10 yards with a single 12l and a weight belt.

But conversly I know of one guy who is without doubt carrying a few pounds more than he should.  But he completed his NAUI instructor a year or 2 back and did the time swim so quick the examiners queried his time.  (Probably something to do with him being a swimming coach and ex navy PT instructor   ).
I also know of one guy who is without doubt carrying a bit more ballast than he should. &nbsp;But he dives with twin 12l 300bar and a 300bar pony so I think he qualifies as fit for the purpose (He is on these boards and if he reads this he will know who he is )

I realise that the above comments were not directly aimed at my mate but just to shed some more light on his circumstances.

I guess my mate in question has something else going on,  he is average height, slim build and he told me that his condition was diagnosed when he was playing rugby regularly some years back.  He does play squash regularly so I am sure this will all be of benefit when he goes to see a specialist.

Daz

[parahandy]

<font color='#0000FF'>Daz
Getting back to the topic of High BP, and your thoughts about your friend being given the go ahead to dive. Although on the diving medicals forms there are upper and lower limits.
I remember reading at least one example where someone was given the go ahead to dive having been taken off Beta blockers by changing to a suitable alternative medication which kept BP within normal limits. A sympatheic &quot;well informed&quot; GP who communicates with a Diving Doctor referee helps.

As I understand it the thing with Beta blockers is they limits exercise tolerance and can lead to pass out's. &nbsp;As well as the usual Diving Medical Forum, theres quite a lot of well informed stuff on the DAN web site that could be of help to your friend.
Fingers crossed for him.

Take on board the point you illustrated about the exceptions to the rule to fitness with the &quot;big guys&quot;.



&nbsp;

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>Thanks for the advice. &nbsp;Will pass it all on. &nbsp;I have already pointed him at the list on the BSAC web site.

I'm still waiting to see if the big guy with the 300bar twins and ponies will bite. &nbsp;

Daz
(Don't know about bite actually - he will probably just rip my arms off and hit me with the soggy ends.)

[Sinbad Returns]

Just wondering how your mate got on.

A doctor offered me beta blockers - am not diving at the moment but would be interested in how the diving doc reacted / dealt with. &nbsp;Also interested to know if anyone else dives while using them.

Sinbad

[daz]

<font color='#000080'>No news yet, &nbsp;he is still waiting for an appointment to see a specialist.

However as I understand it, &nbsp;betablockers seem to be considered a no, no for diving. &nbsp;There are other drugs that maybe suitable for high blood pressure conditions and are more diving friendly.

I guess the thing to do is ask your doc what all the options are, &nbsp;unless they know all the facts (ie. &nbsp;You want to dive)they will probably recommend the drug that is best suited for your condition.

Will keep you posted.

Daz

Disclaimer :- Not a Doc or medically trained so take the above as my idle ramblings and not based on fact at all.