Short- and long-term effects of diving on pulmonary function

Abstract

@ERSpublicationsThe effects of diving on pulmonary function largely depend on factors associated with the individual diving response http://ow.ly/aIFS3095WNnCite this article as: Tetzlaff K, Thomas PS. Short-and long-term effects of diving on pulmonary function. ABSTRACT The diving environment provides a challenge to the lung, including exposure to high ambient pressure, altered gas characteristics and cardiovascular effects on the pulmonary circulation. Several factors associated with diving affect pulmonary function acutely and can potentially cause prolonged effects that may accumulate gradually with repeated diving exposure. Evidence from experimental deep dives and longitudinal studies suggests long-term adverse effects of diving on the lungs in commercial deep divers, such as the development of small airways disease and accelerated loss of lung function. In addition, there is an accumulating body of evidence that diving with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) may not be associated with deleterious effects on pulmonary function. Although changes in pulmonary function after single scuba dives have been found to be associated with immersion, ambient cold temperatures and decompression stress, changes in lung function were small and suggest a low likelihood of clinical significance. Recent evidence points to no accelerated loss of lung function in military or recreational scuba divers over time. Thus, the impact of diving on pulmonary function largely depends on factors associated with the individual diving exposure. However, in susceptible subjects clinically relevant worsening of lung function may occur even after single shallow-water scuba dives.

Evolution of the respiratory function of professional divers over 15 years

“…In the most recent studies, FCV has been shown to increase significantly after 3 or more years of professional diving [7,11,19]. Although the oldest studies showed a reduction, it is generally accepted that VC and FVC increase due to the divers' training [1,18]. For this study, there was no connection with physical activity in general or with diving.…”

“…Since our subjects had no other professional toxic exposure, we may conclude that this flow reduction derives from the diving experience, suggesting an effect on first the bronchioles and then the larger bronchi. The hypothesis of small airways disease in professional divers has been discussed for several decades [1]. Some studies have shown the appearance Richard Pougnet et al, Evolution of the respiratory function of professional divers over 15 years of small airways disease among recreational divers [22], but these results have not been systematically shown in all studies for professional divers.…”

“…The exercise of professional diving involves a variety of different activities [1]. Some divers are scientists, diving to collect information on fauna, flora, the chemical environment, etc.…”

“…These constraints could lead to deleterious effects on lung function. On this hypothesis, existing studies propose divergent results [1,4]. For some authors, the long-term effects could be the appearance of a small airway disease [5,6].…”

The Effects of Short Term SCUBA Diving On Respiratory Functions

“…(p=0,569) Katılımcıların dalış bilgileri Tablo 1'de verilmiştir. Gün 1 4,34±0,84 4,44±0,81 1,000 5,18±1,04 5,43±1,02 0,087 0,83±0,13 0,82±0,08 1,000 Gün 2 4,39±0,78 4,37±0,85 1,000 5,21±0,97 5,28±1,06 1,000 0,85±0,07 0,83±0,09 1,000 Gün 3 4,27±0,82 4,29±0,87 1,000 5,16±1,03 5,18±1,10 1,000 0,83±0,08 0,84±0,09 1,000 Gün 4 4,28±0,86 4,28±0,82 1,000 5,21±1,02 5,24±1,03 1,000 0,83±0,09 0,82±0,08 1,000 Gün 5 4,26±0,89 4,25±0,85 1,000 5,17±1,07 5,18±1,01 1,000 0,81±0,13 0,82±0,08 1,000 (Tetzlaff, Thomas, 2017). Direncin artmasına bir sebep de regülatörün kendisidir.…”