{"id":6680,"date":"2020-01-31T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2020-01-31T10:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kooxdiving.com\/en\/?p=6680"},"modified":"2020-12-01T07:33:31","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T07:33:31","slug":"can-you-scuba-dive-with-a-pacemaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kooxdiving.com\/en\/can-you-scuba-dive-with-a-pacemaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Scuba Dive With a Pacemaker?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No, you cannot dive with a pacemaker. This could be your doctor\u2019s statement 20 years ago, fortunately, research and technological development have found that there is a chance to dive with pacemaker. It is true there is some restrictions for your safety, for military and commercial diving, a cardiac pacemaker is invariably considered a disqualification and we will tell you why…<\/p>\n
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A pacemaker is a battery-powered device for stimulating or steadying the heart, re-establishing the rhythm \u2013 and when necessary generating a painless electrical impulse to trigger a heartbeat.
\nPacemakers are often needed for certain medical disorders, such as sick sinus syndrome, and they can also help correct damage caused by heart disease and heart failure. If you enjoy underwater activities such as scuba diving you may be interested in this article. Can you dive with a pacemaker? Read on\u2026<\/p>\n
Scuba diving medical conditions require that every potential diver be assessed individually. The two factors that will be taken into account are if the person is dependent on the pacemaker, and if the pacemaker is rated to perform at depths compatible with recreational diving \u2013 including an extra margin of safety.<\/p>\n
The cardiologist will determine that the level of cardiovascular fitness is sufficient for safe diving by conducting tests:<\/p>\n
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A cardiac pacemaker is located under the skin, so during recreational diving, it becomes exposed to the same extremes of depth as the diver.
\nFor diving, an adequate pacemaker must be rated to function at a maximum depth of at least 40 metres and must operate satisfactorily during conditions of rapid pressure changes during ascent and descent.<\/p>\n
Medtronic pacemakers are believed to be the best pacemaker for scuba diving \u2013 these pacemakers are engineered with Medtronic SureScan technology that is approved for safe use in many environments. They\u2019re designed to last between six and 15 years, depending on the device and the type of pacing.<\/p>\n
Research has shown that cardiac pacemakers that are exposed to a depth of 30 metres don\u2019t show any signs of electronic dysfunctions \u2013 just a temporary increase in the pacing rate during pressurisation. However, these pacemakers exposed to a depth of 60 metres, later on, were found to be deformed.<\/p>\n
These results confirm that implanted pacemaker patients shouldn\u2019t be exposed to a hyperbaric pressure of more than 30 metres of seawater (msw).<\/p>\n
There are potential risks with cardiac pacemaker and scuba diving. See a range of situations that could affect your heart:<\/p>\n
Deepwater immersion<\/b> \u2013 immersing the body in deep water causes the blood vessels from the legs to move into the chest cavity \u2013 increasing the volume of blood in the chest. This leads to all four heart chambers to expand, resulting in an escalation in cardiac output and an elevation in blood pressure<\/p>\n
Heat Loss<\/b> \u2013 during the loss of heat underwater the blood vessels that supply the extremities narrow and constrict \u2013 decreasing the blood to your heart and making it work harder. And raising your blood pressure<\/p>\n
Pressure Increase<\/b> \u2013 breathing air under increased pressure greatly affects the cardiac and circulatory systems. The levels of oxygen escalate resulting in a decreased pulse rate and cardiac output. The levels of carbon dioxide may increase and become potentially toxic<\/p>\n
Stress<\/b> \u2013 additional anxiety caused by the dive itself, and the knowledge that the dive may take place in an isolated area with a lack of medical facilities providing cardiac care may increase the pulse rate and the risk of an irregular heartbeat<\/p>\nStay Safe as You Dive<\/h2>\n
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