One of the foremost requisites to scuba diving is unfailing physical health.
Come to think of it, underwater diving is a strenuous activity that entails a tantamount of physical exertion from the carry of scuba equipment such as diving cylinders (that are hardly lightweight) down to swimming; not to mention the drag of the entire open circuit scuba set that is weighing down on the diver's body.
When cruising the depths, inert gases such as Nitrogen are absorbed by the blood and bodily tissues at a rate that is dependent on dive time and oxygen partial pressure.
Poor execution of (Nitrogen) off-gassing methods and an over-fatigued body, when combined, increases the risk of sustaining decompression injuries and other symptoms.
Indeed, the sport of scuba diving can be considered as a lesson in both physical and psychological endurance.
If you feel that you are not yet ready to face the challenges that come about in a diving activity, it would be for your own safety to postpone dive plans until such time that your medical condition improves; once your stamina is revived or when you become confident enough to deal with the intricacies of the dive.
Let us probe into pertinent health concerns that arise in the conduct of scuba diving and how a diver should address these issues constructively.
Weight Matters.
Weight can adversely affect the efficiency of a dive.
Body fat increases a diver's buoyancy and drag underwater which proportionately heightens oxygen use in the process of exertion.
Now this won't do well when breathing in a controlled environment and on a limited amount of compressed air.
So before you dive, make sure you're in excellent physical shape.
Cardiovascular Issues.
Diving casualties from among middle-aged divers arise from heart attacks and other fatal cardiovascular illnesses that manifest in the midst of the dive.
If you have prior cardiovascular history, submit to a stress test and consult your health condition with your physician if you are indeed fit to engage in a dive.
Ear Barotrauma.
An impending cold may just be the signal to postpone a planned dive.
Yes, medications can help.
But what if its narcotic effects wear out at the depths.
You would surely end up fatally congested with your body unable to withstand the rapid changes in pressure.
Nothing beats sporting clear nasal airways during a diving activity.
Dehydration.
You wouldn't know it, but scuba diving immensely dehydrates the body.
Consequently, dehydration can cause fatigue which in turn heightens the risk of cardiovascular stress and decompression sickness.
Get the Picture? So drink plenty of water and other fluids before and after the dive, but avoid the intake of alcohol and caffeinated beverages nevertheless.
Nitrogen Narcosis.
This condition typically manifests at depths below 100 ft as a reaction to increasing gas pressure and volume of Nitrogen dissolved with the blood.
Lingering in manageable depths effectively prevents narcosis, apart from proper equipment maintenance and mastery of buoyancy skills.
Of course, don't go drunk diving! Decompression Sickness.
DCS comes about either from a poorly planned ascent rate, disregard of decompression and safety stops, or it could arise as an offshoot of failing health conditions.
Using high performance scuba equipment [http://www.
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