With in-depth information about common medical concerns and their significance to divers, Diseases & Conditions entries cover symptoms, prevention, first aid, epidemiology, anatomy and more. Implications for diving are included for the diver, the dive operator and the physician.
If you cannot find an answer to your question or want to learn more, call us on the DAN Medical Information Line at +1 (919) 684-2948.
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Information regarding an injured diver’s neurological status will be useful to medical personnel in not only deciding the initial course of treatment but also in the effectiveness of treatment. Here is how to perform an on-site neurological exam.
More than 25 million Americans — including some divers — have asthma. If the disease is well managed and the individual has good lung function and exercise tolerance, a doctor trained in dive medicine may approve of diving.
A DAN study on diabetes and diving monitored plasma glucose levels in divers with and without diabetes. The findings of this study offer insights into the effects of diving on blood glucose and considerations for divers with diabetes.
Decompression illness (DCI) encompasses two conditions: decompression sickness (DCS) and arterial gas embolism (AGE). Symptoms of DCI include numbness and tingling, pain in the joints or muscles, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and more.
Flying after diving can increase the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) because of the relative decrease in ambient pressure with altitude. Here’s how to lower your likelihood of DCS and ensure your safety during your next flight.
Hypertension is a common medical condition in both the general population and among divers. Hypertension affects people differently, and not everyone knows they have it. Certain medications may have implications for diving.
Diving exposes the eyes to increased pressure. While most of the time this has little or no negative effects on the diver, problems are possible. Learn more about how cataract surgery, glaucoma and other eye-related concerns may affect diving.
Failure to properly equalize the air space in your mask may result in an injury to the face and/or one or both eyes. Common among new divers, this condition can be avoided with attention to equalization while diving.
Motion sickness, or seasickness, can happen to anyone. When the inner ear sends signals to the brain that differ from those sent from the eyes, this can lead to dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Fortunately there are many options for managing the condition.
Middle-ear barotrauma (MEBT) is common in diving, but with proper precautions it can be avoided. Learn the symptoms, prevention strategies and proper first aid techniques for this troublesome underwater ailment.
Skin abrasions in marine environments can be more challenging to treat than those that occur on land. Avoid contact with coral, but learn proper wound care so you’ll know what to do in the event of a coral scrape.
Sinus barotraumas are among the most common diving injuries. Although it’s a prevalent and generally benign injury, it could present complications. Find out how to prevent and treat sinus barotrauma while diving.