Skydiving, Asthma Vs. Other sports..

[RoysPlayThing 0]

Okay, so here is the question..

I have Asthma, but wanted to get into scuba diving, or Rock Climbing activities, and chopchop says that it is less safe with my Asthma then Skydiving. I say it is not. What do you think?

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My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.

[benny 0]

Well it would kind suck to have an asthma attack under water... inhaler?

Never go to a DZ strip show.

[bbarnhouse 0]

I don't know about rock climbing, but I do have chronically severe asthma. Scuba and skydiving don't seem to exacerbate it. Best advice I can offer is check with your Dr.

[Stumpy 284]

Rock climbing is one thing - carry an inhaler and you can probably deal, but scuba is something completely different. Very dry air 20m under the surface might not be the best idea, i know people who have been turned down by their doctors because of it, and its not somewhere you want to be if you have an attack.

BTW, I'm no expert and am not asthmatic so don't take my word for anything!

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[RoysPlayThing 0]

LMAO! .... Yes, that would not be good....lol ...

Psst! ... I'm loosing my argument...*Sigh*[//white]

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My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.

[pleifer 0]

athough no problems resently, I have asthma also.

And I rock climb and scuba.
I think the only problem with scuba, is if you were nervous. Panic attacks are one of the leading causes of problems, not that they are if delt with, but they can lead to major problems if not delt with correctly,
any questions let me know, I am in a rescue scuba class right now and start dive master training spring term.
as far as rock climbing, you are on a rope and as long as you are not lead climbing, the person belaing (sp?) can just lower you down or hold you there untill you are fine.

just my $.02 which won't get you much

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The Angel of Duh has spoke

[carbonezone 0]

I was going to get cerified for scuba and the instructor knew that I had asthma and said I would have to get a release from the doctor before class!
I have found that snorkling actually helps my asthma...."smooth steady breathing I guess" !
Tami

[Dagny 0]

now that's a question and a debate better shared with your primary care doctor than with all of us at dz.com who can only speculate, at best.

Your participation in sports like skydiving and scuba and rock climbing with asthma may be risky. It may not be. You know the severity of your asthma, do you have to use an inhaler every day? More than once a day? After strenuous exercise or activities? For that matter, do you use an inhaler or are you on nebulizer treatments or oral medication? How severe are your attacks? Not that you need to answer these questions, but these are things that you should consider with your doctor.

Due to the physical exertion, pressure changes, and air quality encountered in skydiving and scuba, it is a good thing to consider their impact on your asthma. Go talk to your doctor, let him or her be the deciding factor. Hoping you win your debate...

Take me, I am the drug; take me, I am hallucinogenic.
-Salvador Dali

[jmpnkramer 0]

The real question is if the asthma is under control or not.

If it is then you should not have an issue. If it is not then you might want to think twice.

Of course you should always consult an actual physician and not some forum group.

I have Asthma and many people take a second look at me when they find out. This is because I can run a 6 min mile amoung many other things.

Laters,

.

The REAL KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMER!

"HESITATION CAUSES DEATH!!!"
"Be Slow to Fall into Friendship; but when Thou Art in, Continue Firm & Constant." - SOCRATES

[countryscrub 0]

always one way too find out ...try em out but thats not something id even do and heck ill walk trough a pack of starving dogs with penut butter sperad on my junk ....id take the advice of the others here and seek your doc's opinion not our at least on this subject

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i used to do alot of things ....skydiving wont be one of them :)

[Nightingale 0]

scuba and rock climbing would be more dangerous simply because of the unavailability of help.

if you're 100 feet under the ocean, you'll get very sick and possibly die if you have to surface immediately because you can't breathe. The whole nitrogen in the blood thing. You're breathing very dry air which can irritate the lungs.

With rock climbing, you're in the middle of nowhere doing something very physically strenuous. You're a long way from medical help if you need it.

with skydiving, if you have a problem, pull and get to your inhaler. land as fast as possible, and you'll be surrounded by people who can get you medical attention immediately, if you need it. Also, I would say your standard skydive is not as physically strenuous as rock climbing, so the chances of an attack, if your asthma is exercise induced, would be less to begin with.

[RoysPlayThing 0]

I love snorkeling

_______________________________________________
My mind is like a parachute...it functions only when open.

[jumpinfarmer 0]

I have asthma and never had a problem. I've scuba dived before and love skydiving. I will admit that I can't run very far without being short of breath, but I can also mow hay in the heat and dust all day with no problems. Check with your doctor and see what can be done to get and keep it in check.

[osuskydiver 0]

How bad is yoru asthma?
Do you always carry an inhaler around?


I say you only live once, do what makes you happy
Disclaimer: If anyone is to take this advice and gets seriosulsy injured, ITS NOT MY FAULT

By the time you read this you have already read it.

[RoadRash 0]

To tell you the truth, I have known several swimmers who have asthma and who scuba dive. They don't seem to have a problem, however, it is something that you want to inform your instructor about and keep a close eye on. Keep an inhaler close by (or as close as possible). That is why there is a buddy system in scuba diving. Rock climbing...dunno...


P.S. Missed you and chopchop in Orlando...our group stayed a little drunk and happy 'cause we got to jump at Lake Wales...teehee......I will definitely be out there sometime in the near future...then we can hang out...I owe you guys a free drink...!!!!!!

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Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~...

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I think the only problem with scuba, is if you were nervous. Panic attacks are one of the leading causes of problems, not that they are if delt with, but they can lead to major problems if not delt with correctly,
any questions let me know, I am in a rescue scuba class right now and start dive master training spring term.

You're not the only one to give such advise here, which is quite disturbing. Please delay starting DM training. One should have experience of time before taking responsibility for others well being, just as with skydiving.

The problem is not that you might panic. The problem is that some of the aveoli in your lungs may become closed off during your dive. This could be triggered by fatigue, dry air, whatever sets your asthma off. If that happens, you don't get to surface and take a hit off your inhaler. You'll suffer an AGE (arterial gas embolism) on the way up, which will hit you immediately, and perhaps fatally. This is not the bends; this is far worse.

Lots of asthmatics dive, mostly without incident. But those that do do it quietly, and after considering the risks. Not all asthma presents the same risk. If your doctor is a diving aware one, I'd listen to him. If he is the kind that thinks airplanes are for flying and motorcycles need to be replaced with a nice car, shop for another opinion. DAN can recommend a pulmonologist that can give you a honest accounting.

To advise in any other way is akin to suggesting a beginner jump without goggles, an altimeter, and an AAD. You can be missing legs, be morbidly obese, and have any number of ailments. But the lungs have to work when you're going to 2-6 atmospheres of pressure.

[pa2themd 0]

Quote

Okay, so here is the question..

I have Asthma, but wanted to get into scuba diving, or Rock Climbing activities, and chopchop says that it is less safe with my Asthma then Skydiving. I say it is not. What do you think?

It all depends on whether your asthma is controlled or not!!! I have chronic asthma and skydive so why let other people limit u!!

"Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just assume it's
addressed to someone else!" Ivern Ball

[ChasingBlueSky 0]

FYI

We had a tandem student a few years back that never told the DZ he had Asthma. The cold and adrenaline rush kicked off an attack - luckily he had the inhaler on him, too bad it was inside the jumpsuit. He went limp under canopy and the TM got them down as fast as possible - the guy was supposedly turning blue at this point.

He was ok after some resuscitation - and when he started to come to, he reached inside the jumpsuit and used his inhaler.

I've had the cold cause my lungs to flare up but never cause anything major.

Talk to your Dr, that is what I did.

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you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me....
I WILL fly again.....

[bch7773 0]

basically it comes down to how bad your asthma is. I have very, very mild asthma, and I haven't had a problem with skydiving or scuba with it.
My sister has moderate asthma, a few attacks a week, and she went scuba diving with no problem. well, except for the busted eardrum, but thats another story.

MB 3528, RB 1182