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Diving with hypertension and antihypertensive drugs
Peter E Westerweel1,2,3, Rienk Rienks2,4,5,6, Ahmed Sakr7
1Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, the Netherlands.
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine
|March 19, 2020
Summary
Hypertension is common in scuba divers. This review covers risks of diving with high blood pressure and its medications, offering guidance for physicians on diver fitness and safe treatments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Diving Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Hypertension is highly prevalent among scuba divers.
- Many divers have high blood pressure or use antihypertensive medications.
- This presents unique challenges for diving safety and medical clearance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the risks associated with scuba diving in hypertensive individuals.
- To examine the implications of antihypertensive drug use during diving.
- To provide guidelines for assessing fitness to dive and managing treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of available scientific articles.
- Analysis of risks related to hypertension and diving.
- Development of recommendations for diving physicians.
Main Results:
- Diving with hypertension carries potential risks.
- Certain antihypertensive drugs may be compatible with diving.
- Careful patient selection and management are crucial.
Conclusions:
- Physicians need clear guidelines for evaluating hypertensive divers.
- Optimizing antihypertensive treatment can enable safe diving for selected individuals.
- Further research may refine recommendations for this population.
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