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 concerned about diving as I get older. Will the bone loss from osteoporosis make a difference in my diving?
To date, we have not had significant pool of women who: are post menopausal and at risk of osteoporosis (menopause average at 50, osteopenia at 60-65, and fractures starting at 70-75) or have a significant diving experience including appropriate number of dives at profound depth which put them at risk for osteonecrosis

Therefore, we have no data on coincident osteoporosis and osteonecrosis in women at risk (or men for that matter).

The pathophysiologic mechanisms leading to osteoporosis and osteonecrosis are different.

Osteoporosis results from decreases in osteoblast activity and relative increase of osteoclast activity, resulting in bone resorption and demineralization.
The infarction of the microcirculation of bone is the triggering mechanism for osteonecrosis. Women are at increased risk for osteoporosis given that their overall lifetime peak bone mass is lower than men and that the loss of estrogen during menopause, greatly accelerates the rate of bone demineralization.

All we can say at this point is that women should dive as conservatively as possible, thereby trying to minimize their risks of osteonecrosis, so as not to impose this bone damaging disease on top of their already increased risk of fracture due to Type I estrogen dependent osteoporosis.