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Review
. 2016 Jun;25(140):214-20.
doi: 10.1183/16000617.0006-2016.

Can asthmatic subjects dive?

Yochai Adir  1 , Alfred A Bove  2
Affiliations
Review

Can asthmatic subjects dive?

Yochai Adir et al. Eur Respir Rev. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Recreational diving with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) has grown in popularity. Asthma is a common disease with a similar prevalence in divers as in the general population. Due to theoretical concern about an increased risk for pulmonary barotrauma and decompression sickness in asthmatic divers, in the past the approach to asthmatic diver candidates was very conservative, with scuba disallowed. However, experience in the field and data in the current literature do not support this dogmatic approach. In this review the theoretical risk factors of diving with asthma, the epidemiological data and the recommended approach to the asthmatic diver candidate will be described.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

References

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