Medical FAQs

Here's a list compiled over the years of commonly asked questions. The list was created by DAN MDs and represent specific, evidence-based recommendations our member should take into consideration.

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I’m 56 and in good health. Three years ago I had an idiopathic pulmonary embolism. I am no longer taking anticoagulant medication, and I remain very active. Can I dive?
Several things need to be considered when evaluating fitness for diving after a pulmonary embolism. First is the cause, because it is important to determine the risk of recurrence. Determining this risk may be difficult in your case because your embolism was idiopathic (of unknown origin).

Next the damage to the lung must be assessed.
Scarring and/or adhesions may prevent proper gas exchange, making diving unsafe. DAN is not in a position to determine an individual’s fitness for diving; a physician must make that decision. The best way to begin the process of assessing your fitness to dive is to get a high-resolution spiral CT scan to determine if there is damage to the lung tissue. If there isn’t, and exercise tolerance is normal, diving can be considered.
Pulmonary hypertension and other associated medical conditions may restrict your exercise tolerance.
Certain medications can have side effects that might limit your ability to dive safely, so you should discuss all medications you take and your complete medical history with your doctor.
If your doctor approves your return to diving, request this approval in writing so you can provide documentation to dive operators, who will likely require a written statement before allowing you to dive.

Last week I caught a cold and high fever, with respiratory difficulties. My doctor, after a medical examination, diagnosed a bronchospasm and gave me the following medications: 3 days with Azithromycin antibiotic and then Ambroxole. It seems now that I recovered my nasal respiration and I will be clinically checked in the next few days. I would like to have your opinion before diving again.
You can go back to diving safely again only after your doctor confirms that the acute inflammation

at upper airways and bronchial level is completely recovered and thus you may discontinue the medication therapy.

I had a spontaneous pneumothorax a few months ago. How long should I wait before diving again?
Unfortunately for you, nowadays a spontaneous pneumothorax is recognised as an absolute contraindication for diving.

This is because of two reasons:

  1. If it occurred without any injury (so the name “spontaneous”), it can happen again at any time. In fact, there are some statistics showing that half of those persons who had spontaneous pneumothorax in the past, will have it again in future.
  2. If pneumothorax occurs while diving, any decrease of pressure, for example during surfacing, will increase volume of air in the pleural cavity leading to a tension pneumothorax, when internal pressure will compress the lung and the heart.

This is a real life-threatening disorder, especially when occurring underwater, just after surfacing or even on the diving boat. All in all, the risk is too high for potentially fatal consequences, so you should understand that you should avoid diving. And this restriction expands also for any hyperbaric exposures, like for example hyperbaric chambers, even for training purposes.