Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, is a problem for many people and if it is not well-managed carries with it the risk of serious illness, such as a stroke, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, eye problems, kidney disease, and cerebrovascular disease. With high blood pressure there is an increased pressure on the inside of the walls of the blood vessels and this can be caused by a number of factors, including narrowing or hardening of the arteries, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal gland dysfunction, kidney problems, or a hormone imbalance. If you have ever heard a doctor tell you what your blood pressure is, he or she would have said one number over another number. No this is not a faction, but rather the systolic pressure given over the diastolic pressure. Normal blood pressure occurs when the systolic pressure is between 140 and 90 and the diastolic pressure is between 90 and 60.
Diving with high blood pressure or any of the serious illnesses and conditions that can result from having high blood pressure is not safe. Fortunately, high blood pressure can be brought under control so that it will not hinder a diver. Mild high blood pressure can often be treated with a simple change in diet, but when medication is necessary the medications used to treat high blood pressure can have side effects that can increase the risks while diving. The first thing to remember is that no matter what medications a diver is taking, it is important to know how they affect the body. Each person is affected in a unique way. Some people may experience drastic side effects and others may experience mild ones or none at all. There are a number of drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure and these have varying side effects, depending on which ones are taken and whether they are taken alone or in combination with each other. The most commonly used drugs are beta-blockers, calcium blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and diuretics. Let's take a look at how these medications can affect diving.
One of the most common medications to treat high blood pressure is referred to as Beta-blockers. Beta-blockers have a number of side effects, including drowsiness, difficulty breathing, and dry mouth, all of which can be troublesome or cause problems on a dive. However, beta-blockers have another potential side effect that can be very dangerous and that is that it can reduce the heart's capacity to handle exercise. It is crucial that you have a heart stress test done if you are taking beta-blockers. This will determine whether or not your heart can withstand the exercise level required for diving.
An alternative to beta-blockers is another family of drugs known as ACE inhibitors. In fact, these are often given to people who exercise frequently because these medications have a minimized effect on the ability of the heart to withstand exercise. The drawback to ACE’s is that they can cause a cough and airway swelling, both of which could be very problematic for divers.
Another alternative treatment for high blood pressure is Calcium Channel Blockers. These generally cause no adverse effects for divers with the possible exception that sometimes this medication can bring a person's blood pressure down to the point at which they experience dizziness when changing position from sitting or lying down to standing.
The final type of medication for treating high blood pressure is diuretics. These have no adverse effects for divers and are used to lower the amount of fluid and salt in the body, which reduces the pressure in the blood vessels. The only potential problem with diuretics is that the risk of dehydration is higher, which may increase the risk of getting decompression illness. Drinking plenty of fluids is very important when taking diuretics.
As you can see, there are some medications that people with high blood pressure can take that will allow them to dive safely. It will all depend on how severe your high blood pressure is and on the side effects you experience while on any of these medications. If you are uncertain, the best thing to do is to consult your physician or a dive doctor. If you are taking one type of medication and it has side effects that may affect your diving, then your doctor may be able to switch you to a different medication that will allow you to dive safely. In the end, that is what divers want, to have a safe dive so that they can enjoy the underwater scenery and the sport they love. So take care of your high blood pressure, find a medication that is right for you, and take the plunge. You'll be thankful you did.