fizzy drinks and diving

[bob wippin]

Recently heard someone trying to tell me that you should not drink fizzy drinks before diving as this will encourage bubble formation as you are absorbing bubbles into the bloodstream.....(not the bit about caffine effecting ADH secreation, causing dehydration)

I instantly dismissed this as rubbish, although I know this is rubbish why exactly is it rubbish?

I said it was because gases are absorbed throught the lungs, no gas can be absorbed through the stomach. Threrfore unless you are inhaling the fizzy drink it will not be a problem.... But is this correct.

[tiggerbiker]

even though i dont really know what i'm talking about! i'll think out loud on this one - if i may.

1) co2 is highly soluble and i dont think you could drink enough fizzy drinks to actually force actual bubbles of it into the bloodstream from the stomach

2)if co2 can get from the stomach to the bloodstream it would only be a relitively small amount and it would make a slight imbalance (minutly more co2 inside the body compared to normal) and would be given off quicker during the gas exchange in the alvioli - thus causing no real problems??
does that make any sense? (i know what i mean - even if it doesnt make sense here!!)

[Simon TW]

I believe it is possible but you have to snort a lot of coke

[Hellvet]

Dunno bout bubble formation - i always thought it was because you ended up with a lot of gas in your stomach which effectively created another gas space that could be affected by changes in ambient pressure making life uncomfortable and potentially very anti social...!

[Tonio Anastasi]

As I remember it, its not gas absorbtion you need to worry about.

The problem, and I stand to be corrected, is that the fizz in the drinks could, on ascent, expand in the airsapace of your stomach causing discomfort, in some instances injury, and/or some very serious belching.

[bob wippin]

Originally Posted by Tonio Anastasi

As I remember it, its not gas absorbtion you need to worry about.

The problem, and I stand to be corrected, is that the fizz in the drinks could, on ascent, expand in the airsapace of your stomach causing discomfort, in some instances injury, and/or some very serious belching.

How can this be, if the gas from the fizzy drinks is not 'painful' on the surface when it compresses on descending and then decompresses on ascending, it is no worse than when you drank it on the surface, unless you have taken a 12 pack of coke down on the dive and drunk them all pretty quick at 30m before ascending instantly.....

I am talking about basically can the fizz in fizzy drinks be absorbed through the stomach to lead to supersaturation of gas in the blood on ascent when combined with the nitrogen absorbed aswell during the dive

[NeilP]

Well I would leave lager alone, stick with a real - ale as it has far less gas. You should be ok with that.

[CotoChris]

I don't think it's a problem, just doesn't help with the burping and farting.

[nigelH]

This is a gas you naturally produce and exhale.
It is the gas that drives your breathing reflex.
If CO2 moved into the blood you would feel out of breath and pant it out.

[uwila]

Originally Posted by CotoChris

I don't think it's a problem, just doesn't help with the burping and farting.

Hmmm, I've always find it helps the farting along very nicely