Scuba Diving Dive

scuba diving dive_2"scuba diving dive"
Can I still scuba dive after a Heart Disease Treatment ?

I had an angioplasty and stents placed weeks ago.
I am a scuba diver and I wouldn't want to stop diving.
Can I still dive after a treatment like this?

Hello,

I don't know if you have to get a medical exam before scuba diving, where you are, - or if it is enough that you self-certify.

I'm a retired uk gp, - I used to be in our military and I did a military Underwater Medicine course. I'm also a scuba diver myself.

I think it makes a difference how old you are. You would have to be in a slightly older age group, to need angioplasty and stenting. Presumably you had some warning that something was wrong with you, - you had angina or chest pains, or a heart attack, or you needed investigations for raised blood pressure, or for heart failure or shortness-of-breath?

In any case, presumably your heart muscle has already been damaged by whatever your trouble was, and you now have reduced exercise-tolerance or easy shortness-of-breath?

I think scuba diving can be very physical, and with a reduced reserve of heart-muscle you would be putting yourself and your buddy at much greater risk. Getting further chest pain or angina, or severe shortness of breath underwater, is not such a good idea, imo. Scuba diving also involves lugging a great weight of kit about the dive-site, before the dive, in my experience.

I think you are asking more, whether you get, - for example, the bends, or an embolism, or nitrogen narcosis - - easier with stents in.

Certainly having nitrogen bubbles, can compromise anyone's circulation, and if they target your heart or lung circulation you are going to be in a worse position than most.

You might find a buddy prepared to dive with you, - - I can only say that I would not, personally, - because it definitely looks partly your fault if your buddy goes and dies on you. Plus, your buddy might be the one to get into difficulties, and need *your* immediate and energetic help, - could you give that?

If I were still in medical practice, I would not give you clearance to dive, sorry. I think you know what the answer could be if you asked your Cardiologist

I'm sorry. - I just don't think there's such a thing as "gentle scuba diving." Maybe there's "gentle snorkelling," you could perhaps give that a try? : )

Best wishes,

Belliger
retired uk gp

Scuba Diving Show Part 1


scuba diving dive