http://www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk Dive Medicine - information for divers on different diving medicine subjects: marine animal hazards, the bends, Cardiovascular System and scuba diving, Central Nervous System and the scuba diver, Drugs and Diving, Easy Equalization for scuba divers, Eye Problems for scuba divers, women and scuba diving, Fitness and Diving, Gastrointestinal Problems and scuba diving, trauma and orthopaedic problems for scuba divers, Respiratory Problems and scuba diving. en-us webmaster@e-med.co.uk http://www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/ldc_logo_new_small.jpg http://www.midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk 100 50 As I emerge, chrysalid like from my winter hibernation, and the horrid British weather starts to improve, my thoughts once again turn to some diving in the local murky water holes. Sadly my physical condition after a somewhat lengthy layoff leaves a littl... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 01:45:23 +0100 How "fit" do I have to be to dive? I'm a rather out of shape blubbery 56 year old ex smoker who has rather inconceivably won a beginner's course in diving. I blame my addictive personality and too much time to do crosswords on the daily commute. Anyway, t... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 01:40:20 +0100 With my work I get the opportunity to have a health screen every 2 years, and I had one last week. I got the usual admonishment for being overweight (my diet is full of fast food, I'll admit), but on the blood tests they said I had "impaired fasting glyca... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Sun, 09 May 2010 06:04:44 +0100 I'm due to finish my instructor course in the next couple of months and have got myself into a bit of a panic about my weight. I've always been a big lad, a typical rugby forward shape, but I enjoy sport and don't sit around, so I think I'm quite fit. Thi... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:18:13 +0000 I had weight loss surgery a few years ago. The procedure I had was called gastric bypass. Ironically I sold my dive gear to help pay privately for the procedure, thinking I'd never need it again. But having the surgery gave me a new lease of life and I ha... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:16:08 +0000 My doctor has agreed to put me on some medication to help me lose weight. I've been overweight for most of my life and whatever I do I can't seem to shift it. Over the years I've lost a bit with crash diets but the weight always ends up piling back on, of... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:14:35 +0000 I've just reached my 70th birthday and my wife's promised me a diving holiday in the Maldives to celebrate. I used to be a runner and quite fit up to my retirement, but since then too much fine food and wine has made its way to my waistline. I know I need... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:05:08 +0000 My daughter is a good swimmer and really wants to try SCUBA diving, but I've heard there are potential risks to growing children from diving - something about bubbles in the joints? I don't know much about it and she's only 14 - old enough to try it but I... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:37:05 +0000 Why is it that children can't dive below the age of 8? I suppose there has to be a cut-off at some point, but is there a good medical reason why a 7 year-old can't dive? I'm asking because my 7 year-old son has got very jealous of his 9 year-old sister do... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:36:41 +0000 Both our children have decided they want to learn to dive. (Lord knows why, having watched their mum and dad unattractively flopping about in Wraysbury.) Anyway, one is 8 and the other is 10, and we've been trying to find out whether they're more likely t... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:36:14 +0000 I get a lot of students wanting to learn to dive who are overweight, and some hugely so. What are the real risks of diving if you are overweight, and how can I decide which ones are safe to train and which ones aren't? https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:49:40 +0000 Hi doc. I think I know what the answer to this will be, but I'm going to ask anyway. I'm in the middle of my divemaster and want to eventually do the instructor course. I know I need the HSE medical to work in the UK, but I'm overweight and don't do any e... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:03:08 +0000 My question is simply that I am about to go to the Maldives where I will do some diving. I have my PADI and Advanced PADI qualifications, but have not dived for about 4 or 5 years. I am 51 years old and generally fit, other than being a little overweight.... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:59:33 +0000 Doc, I'm getting fed up with my dive club making jokes about how bad my gas consumption is. I admit I'm not the slimmest card in the pack but I've been trying to exercise more, going to the gym and swimming twice a week. My girlfriend does yoga and thinks... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:08:22 +0000 Two years ago I passed my open water course in Cyprus. My age now is 55, I am 5'10" tall and weigh about 14 stone. Last year I went to Sharm el Sheikh for the superb diving I was told of.Before undertaking the scuba review, I filled out a medi... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:58:11 +0100 Hi. I'm a novice diver so I hope this question doesn't sound stupid. I'm a bit of an exercise freak and train with weights most days for at least 2 hours. Some of the lads at the gym are divers and were saying that you shouldn't exercise when you dive as ... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Mon, 19 May 2008 11:49:05 +0100 Whilst holidaying with my daughter and grandchildren in the Maldives I was given the opportunity to dive. I had only ever snorkelled previously and scuba diving was a revelation. But at the ripe old age of 63 how many years of this wonderful sport do I ha... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Mon, 19 May 2008 11:21:11 +0100 I weigh 13st 4lbs and am 5ft 3ins. My BMI is 32. Obviously, this is above the '30' acceptable limit for the HSE medical. However, I have a large excess of 'spare skin' as a result of a large amount of weight loss (7 stone in the last 12 months). I hav... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:12:34 +0000 I have been looking at diving holidays at the Red Sea. I cannot dive currently. I have done it only once years ago and have no qualifications. I have a form of muscular dystrophy (FSHD). This means my muscles slowly become weaker over my lifetime. I... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=16 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:22:49 +0100 I am 70YRS old, is it wise of me to carry on diving? https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 11:15:39 +0100 I am holidaying in Australia soon and am going out to the Great Barrier Reef. I want to do a helmet dive. That's walking on the bottom, 5 meters down with just a helmet on.I am 60 years old reasonably fit, had a by pass operation 6 years ago s... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:34:31 +0000 Having given up smoking over four years ago, I've now caught the fitness bug in an effort to ease into my fortieth year. I currently work out at the gym on average 6 days a week, completing three different programs formulated to complement ... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Mon, 06 Nov 2006 12:41:00 +0000 I am attending the pool session tomorrow for my OWC but have a few issues. I answered 'yes' on three questions from my medical questionnaire. Firstly regarding my sinus problem that resulted in sinusitis quite a few times, which I was told ... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:37:38 +0000 I would like to learn how to dive this year but would like to know what the weight/fitness requirements are. Basically I would like to dive and am using this as an incentive to lose weight.Also what are the swimming requirements? https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:47:49 +0100 I am an active bodybuilder currently weighing 17stone of mainly solid muscle mass, I am also a re-breather diver regularly diving to 80+ mtrs on trimix, I dive using a VR3 that I have set to 30% conservatism. My query is that I can not drop this below 30%... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=16 Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:40:02 +0100 I have had shin splints for approx 4 years now, only recently been giving me a bit of bother. Knee complaint as yet not known, having physio to try and resolve problem, though swimming and water activity not a problem. Currently serving with HM Royal Navy... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=16 Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:39:21 +0100 I have a problem with my air consumption when diving. I am 63 years old and learnt to dive 3 1/2 years ago. I have since logged over 100 dives in both UK and tropical waters and achieved Master Scuba Diver rating. I am 5'6" tall and weigh 83kg... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 While I've been diving (90%) in the UK for 2-3 years and I have recently qualified as PADI Rescue, I'm also active in a number of other sports, which means that I'm at least reasonably fit. However, I have heard contradicting views regarding running befor... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 Please can you tell me what my BMI needs to be below for an HSE Medical? https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=15 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 I wrote to you almost about a year ago about diving after a tympanoplasty, everything worked well, and the diving was great.I have a general query. At home, I do quite a lot of exercise - running and swimming regularly at a reasonably vigorous... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=118 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 I understand you are currently shown as one of the medical referees on the BSAC/PADI system. My membership is due for renewal, and there are three questions on the certificate on which I have to ask for advice. I think a short 'pen-picture' of... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=17 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 My partner and I are going to book a trip in May to El Quesir. We are both PADI Open Water and last had a dive medical in 1999. We thought that since we are both 50 plus we needed a medical every 2 years. We were told by the doctor's surgery t... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100 I am 58 yrs old and, following a try dive whilst on holiday, have got the Scuba bug. I have just completed my PADI open water qualification and am looking forwards to developing my expertise. My question is, how long can I expect to be a... https://midlandsdivingchamber.co.uk/index.php?id=advice&page=6&cat=11&sub_cat=18 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 01:00:00 +0100