DAN : Medical FAQs

Diving and conception

I cannot find any information regarding my specific concern. I know women should not dive once they are pregnant but what about if you are trying to become pregnant?
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Polycythemia vera

Any adversity or cautions needed when diving with polycythemia vera (increased red blood cells and elevated o2 levels that could be present in blood prior to diving nitrox and 100% o2 for decompression, even at depths of less than 20 feet). Thank you.
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Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

I have wanted to dive for a long time. I have a condition known as HHT. Will this stop me from diving?
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Massage & Diving

I've been told not get a deep tissue massage the same day as diving because it can cause DCS. Is this true?
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Malaria Medicines & Diving

My husband and I are planning a trip this fall to Papua New Guinea, where we expect to enjoy several days of diving and a couple days of trekking through some heavily forested areas. We've been reading about recommendations for anti-malaria medications. Are these drugs really necessary?
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Lens Implants and Diving

My ophthalmologist has scheduled me for cataract surgery next week. The surgery will include lens implants. I have scheduled a dive vacation three months from now and am curious to know if it is OK to dive after lens implant surgery. My ophthalmologist doesn't think it will be a problem, but he admits he is not trained in dive medicine.
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Inter-Island Flights

While vacationing in St. Maarten, I plan to do a day trip to Saba, with the intention of doing 3 dives. I would fly out in the morning, returning in the evening. The first dive would be at 90 to 130 ft., and the two subsequent dives at 70 to 80 ft. or shallower. The dive operator has assured me that it would be safe to fly back, that same day, as the aircraft would only reach an altitude of 2000 ft. for a few minutes during the 12 minute return flight. Will it be safe to fly under these conditions and is 2000 ft. the cut-off altitude for flying
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Breath-hold diving and SCUBA

I love diving and I also love snorkeling. I understand that breath-hold diving after scuba diving should be avoided. But I've read differing opinions about how much time must elapse after scuba diving before breath-hold diving is safe, and differing opinions as to whether a shallow breath-hold dive is or is not safe after a normal diving surface interval. I would not do any breath-hold diving between scuba dives. But how long is enough and how deep is safe remains a quandry for me.
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Diving with a cracked tooth

My dentist says I have a cracked tooth. Do I need to have this fixed before I dive again?
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Oxygen to divers without symptoms

I am curious if DAN has a position on how to handle a diver that has surfaced with a decompression obligation i.e., has inadvertently omitted a decompression stop, but is asymptomatic for DCS? There seems to be no consistent recommendation on the correct procedure. US Navy recommend in-water recompression, The CMAS publication Scientific Diving: A General Code of Practice recommends observation unless symptomatic, NOAA recommends placing the diver on oxygen for 1/2 hour and then observing and evacuating if DCS symptoms develop. But if placing a
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Hot Tubs after diving

Is it safe to go into a hot tub or jacuzzi after diving? Is it also safe to take a hot shower?
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Timing exercise and diving

I regularly exercise and want to continue my routine on my vacation. I am worried about diving and exercise. Is there any information that can help me plan for both?
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Oxygenated water

There seems to be an increase in the consumption of oxygen “enriched” water. Is there any concern with diving? Could it increase the risk of oxygen toxicity?
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Ventilations with purge valve

When we’re trying to provide rescue breaths in the water to an injured diver, why can’t we use the diver’s own regulator and press the purge button. It seems a lot easier than trying to manage a “pocket mask”?
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Botox Injections

Are there any considerations with botox injections and diving?
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