A lot of people that scuba dive are also fitness buffs, exercising regularly to stay healthy and improve their diving performance. But scuba diving itself is a physical exertion that can be a good workout on its own.
Because scuba is such a physical activity, the common school of thought by doctors and scuba experts is to wait twenty-four hours to exercise after scuba diving. The same also applies before scuba diving as well. (Source)
Most recommendations are referring to hard exercise. If you’re walking or have to lift reasonably lightweight after diving, there should be no issues. It’s the higher strain exercising that can pose a problem.
Decompression Illness (DCI)
Decompression illness is what divers need to look out for and prevent by during and after a dive. It most commonly occurs with too rapid ascent. But other factors including hard exertion during or after the dive can contribute (DAN).
This occurs when microscopic bubbles form in the tissue and bloodstream, which can then make their way into other parts of the body such as the joints, brain, lungs, and other body parts. DCI can cause immense complications when it’s at its worst, so prevention is one of the more important aspects of scuba diving safety.
In scuba diving, it can occur when a diver exceeds safe dive time or depth limits, dives beyond dive table limits or ascends too quickly. When breathing air at depth, you take in a higher volume than you do at the surface. Tank air is the same as surface air, 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.
With each breath at depth, you are taking in more nitrogen molecules than you do at the surface. The deeper you go and the longer you stay down, the more nitrogen you absorb.
Nitrogen is inert under surface pressures: we exhale what we’ve inhaled with each breath.
But when breathing underwater, we take in more nitrogen molecules than we can exhale. Those extra molecules get absorbed into the body’s tissues. As long as a diver ascends slowly and takes breaks between dives, the nitrogen will gradually be released from tissues, transported via bloodstream to the lungs and be exhaled.
A rapid decrease in pressure changes can result in formation of nitrogen bubbles in tissues and in the bloodstream. Bubbles form in the bloodstream that can flow into the brain, heart and other organs, causing blockages and tissue damage just like a stroke or heart attack.
Decompression illness can be broken into two categories that help to better understand the symptoms that a person may experience if they contract it.
Decompression Sickness (DCS)
Decompression sickness is also commonly known as “caisson disease” or “the bends.” Microbubbles entering into the joints will create a classic case of the bends. They’re characterized as joint pain that occurs when DCS is occurring. But the problem can become worse than joint pain. When high levels of nitrogen create a higher amount of bubbles, they can have complex reactions caused by entering the brain or the spinal cord. Numbness can occur as a result, along with paralysis and higher cerebral function disorders.
Even larger numbers of microbubbles caused by the nitrogen pose an even greater problem. They can enter the venous bloodstream, which then causes congestive issues in the lungs and can proceed to cause circulatory shock.
Some of the symptoms associated with DCS are:
- Unexpected fatigue
- Itchy skin or rash
- Joint and/or muscle pain in the arms, legs or torso
- Dizziness, ringing in the ears, vertigo
- Paralysis, numbness or tingling
- Breath shortness
- Weakness
- Difficult urination
- A change in personality, bizarre behavior or confusion
- Amnesia
- Tremors
- Staggering
- Coughing up blood
- Frothy saliva
- Collapse/unconsciousness
These are all signs that DCS may be playing a role in a decompression illness situation. Look for any combination of these when a sudden pressure change takes place. Don’t be in denial if these signs start to show up after surfacing from your dive. If the symptoms begin accumulating in multiples, it’s time to consult a diving medical specialist or dial 911 immediately.
Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE)
Arterial gas embolism or “AGE” is the more serious of the two situations associated with DCI. It occurs when a scuba diver ascends without exhaling. First rule of diving, always breath.
What happens when a person begins experiencing AGE is that the lung tissue may become ruptured if the diver does not exhale the gas in their lungs. The proper term for this phenomenon is pulmonary barotrauma and essentially lets air bubbles form, then enter the bloodstream. Although this seems similar to DCS, the result is more extreme and has a much more dangerous result.
The signs to look for if a diver may be experiencing AGE are:
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Decreased sensation
- Pain in the chest
- Becoming disoriented
- Bloody froth from the mouth and/or nose
- Weakness or paralysis
- Convulsing
- Unconsciousness
- Cessation of breathing
- Death
Yes, you can die from arterial gas embolism. That is why it’s imperative to get a diver to the ER if they begin experiencing AGE. It can quickly become a race against time to save the life of the diver, so be sure to know the signs and seek immediate medical attention if they begin exhibiting the symptoms.
Divers Alert Network (DAN)
The Divers Alert Network (DAN) is an important resource for all divers. Any issues that can occur from the diving itself or any problems that occur afterward may be helped through DAN., Especially if a diver decides to engage in any sort of exercise after the dive. If complications occur, first contact EMS if the situation is serious, and proceed to contact DAN for help. If the situation is mild and you think there may be complications arising, contacting DAN to answer any questions is acceptable.
The Divers Alert Network has a twenty-four-hour hotline available to all divers in their time of need. The number, just in case, is (919) 684-9111. The line connects callers to an expert in diving medicine, so you will be in contact with not only a medical professional but one that specializes in helping divers in a potentially serious situation. They also handle emergencies, so their knowledge base is expansive and can help divers that may be in a life-threatening situation.
If the situation is life-threatening, get the diver to the nearest medical facility with emergency personnel while in the process of contacting DAN. The medical professional you speak with through DAN will typically provide a recommendation for the diver. If the situation is not life-threatening, they will often times place a caller on hold or call them back once they assist in making the proper arrangements for the diver in need.
To Conclude…
Scuba diving can be an invigorating activity, whether you’re diving with regularity or trying it for the first time. But it does include its risks just like anything else. It’s helpful to be in good physical shape if you’re planning on diving, the strength and endurance will assist in a more enjoyable experience.
But for the fitness buffs out there, hold off on exercising for twenty-four-hours before and after your dive. The risks involved are not worth it and can cause potential issues. So, always play it safe when you head out to partake in that next scuba adventure.
