Can I Dive With My Medical Condition?
Scuba Diver|Issue 02 - 2018(112)

DAN medics and researchers answer your questions about dive medicine

Can I Dive With My Medical Condition?

Q: I was diagnosed with leukaemia and underwent treatment. I am in remission and was recently cleared by my doctors for exercise without restriction. I feel well and need only scheduled followups. I have always wanted to scuba dive but am unsure given my condition and subsequent treatment. Can I dive, and are there any restrictions or precautions I should be aware of?

A: Symptoms associated with leukaemia include dizziness, fatigue, fever, weakness, weight loss, anaemia, easy bruising and bleeding, shortness of breath and infections. Clearly, these all have the potential to affect one’s well-being while diving. You and your doctor should consider two important criteria. First, diving should be considered only for patients who are in remission – as you are. It’s important that all divers be free from any distracting or disabling symptoms. Second, it is important that you and your physician confirm that you are not only in good health but also have good exercise tolerance. As you may know, many dive accidents result from challenges posed by the diving environment such as currents, surface swims, weather and sea conditions. All divers must be prepared to face such challenges before returning to the water.

Q: I have noticed that beginning scuba divers often get nosebleeds after dives. What causes them?

This story is from the Issue 02 - 2018(112) edition of Scuba Diver.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the Issue 02 - 2018(112) edition of Scuba Diver.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SCUBA DIVERView All
The Making Of A World Record-Breaking Diver
Scuba Diver

The Making Of A World Record-Breaking Diver

Descending more than 300 metres into the depths of the ocean may sound like a daunting prospect to even the most seasoned diver. But to one man, it was just another a challenge that he set for himself to see how far he was able to push the envelope.

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Risk Mitigation: Hose Failure
Scuba Diver

Risk Mitigation: Hose Failure

An unexpected outcome

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Top 10 Wrecks Of Asia-Pacific
Scuba Diver

Top 10 Wrecks Of Asia-Pacific

We present a curated list of the top 10 most famous wrecks found in the Asia-Pacific region, listed in no particular order

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
From The Medical Line: Diving After DCS
Scuba Diver

From The Medical Line: Diving After DCS

DAN medical information specaialists and researchers answer your dive medicine questions

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Cave Exploration: Beginning With The End In Mind
Scuba Diver

Cave Exploration: Beginning With The End In Mind

Building complex adventures on simple skills

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Dive Slate: Stay Safe On Board
Scuba Diver

Dive Slate: Stay Safe On Board

When preparing for a dive, safety is at the top of the list – checking gear, learning potential site hazards and discussing procedures with your divemaster or buddy.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
101 Tips On Becoming A Better Tek Diver
Scuba Diver

101 Tips On Becoming A Better Tek Diver

Technical diving takes divers beyond the typical recreational scuba diving limits, opening up many new and exciting possibilities.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
TECHNICAL DIVING TIMELINE (1660–1999)
Scuba Diver

TECHNICAL DIVING TIMELINE (1660–1999)

It’s fair to say that the emergence of “technical diving” in the late 1980s, that is, the introduction of mixed gas technology, and later mixed gas rebreathers to the sport diving community, represented the culmination of hundreds of years of scientific discovery and technological development.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
FLYING AFTER DIVING
Scuba Diver

FLYING AFTER DIVING

From the Safety Stop

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
DIAGNOSING DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS
Scuba Diver

DIAGNOSING DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS

Incident Insight

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)