Can I scuba dive if I have sinus problems?
Can I scuba dive if I have sinus problems?
Divers with recurrent sinus barotrauma should be advised not to dive with a congested nasal cavity (e.g., during an upper respiratory infection or during an episode of either allergic or nonallergic rhinitis).
Why should you never dive with a congested sinus?
A relentlessly blocked-up head is unsafe for scuba. You won’t be able to clear your ears and sinuses while descending. Worse, at the end of your dive, it elevates your risk for a reverse squeeze on your way back up.
How do I get rid of sinus squeeze?
Sinus Squeeze Treatment
- Apply warm compresses to the face.
- Pain medications such as acetaminophen (or stronger if prescribed by a health care professional) may be needed to treat symptoms.
- Avoid diving until recovery is complete.
- Oral pseudoephedrine and topical nasal sprays (such as Afrin) should be used.
How do you stay calm while scuba diving?
Dive when relaxed and well-rested to ensure a good experience. Slow things down and dive at your own pace. Dive with someone you trust and not with a group. Don’t increase the difficulty of your dives until you’ve completed many dives successfully without even a hint of panic.
Why do I get decompression sickness when I scuba dive?
Barotrauma/Decompression Sickness Overview Barotrauma often refers to medical problems that arise from the effects of water pressure when a scuba diver is beneath the surface. Water is heavier than air, so when you dive, small changes in depth cause large changes in pressure underwater.
What are the dental implications of scuba diving?
The literature was reviewed to address diving barotrauma (pressure‐induced injury related to an air space) to the head, face and oral regions, as well as scuba mouthpiece‐related oral conditions.
Can a sinus headache be caused by diving?
Barometric‐induced otitis‐media, sinusitis or headache can be manifested as pain to the oral region (indirect barodontalgia). 13 Thus, they should appear in the differential diagnosis of dental pain that is evoked during diving.
What should I do if I have sinusitis?
1 – Irrigation: The market is flooded with nasal sprays, but research has shown simple saline irrigation is most effective at unclogging nasal passages, and reducing head pressure and facial pain. Fill a small teapot with a quarter teaspoon of non-iodized salt dissolved in eight ounces of warm water.
Are there any medical problems associated with scuba diving?
SCUBA diving is inherently risky, as participants are submerged in a hostile environment where they are at risk for potential life-threatening problems. Decompression syndrome (DCS), hypothermia, drowning, barotrauma, immersion pulmonary edema, and gas embolism are important medical complications of diving.
What are the symptoms of DCS in diving?
The onset of symptoms within 10 minutes is more suggestive of gas embolism, whereas DCS tends to present after 10 minutes. Symptoms of DCS (listed in decreasing order of overall prevalence): Barotrauma to the ears, sinuses, and lungs presents with local pain or shortness of breath during the dive itself.
Why do I get barotrauma when I scuba dive?
Barotrauma occurs as a direct result of Boyle’s law. If a diver ascends quickly without breathing (during a breath hold or valsalva), the pressure in the lungs decrease and the volume of gas can rapidly expand. This expansion can result in barotrauma to the lungs, middle ear, and sinuses.