Breath-hold diving exposes the body to immersion and hydrostatic pressure, and the exposure is limited by breath-hold duration. However, in susceptible subjects clinically relevant worsening of lung function may occur even after single shallow-water scuba dives.ĭiving encompasses heterogeneous activities with regards to the diving environment. Thus, the impact of diving on pulmonary function largely depends on factors associated with the individual diving exposure. Recent evidence points to no accelerated loss of lung function in military or recreational scuba divers over time. Although changes in pulmonary function after single scuba dives have been found to be associated with immersion, ambient cold temperatures and decompression stress, changes in lung function were small and suggest a low likelihood of clinical significance. In addition, there is an accumulating body of evidence that diving with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) may not be associated with deleterious effects on pulmonary function.

Evidence from experimental deep dives and longitudinal studies suggests long-term adverse effects of diving on the lungs in commercial deep divers, such as the development of small airways disease and accelerated loss of lung function. Several factors associated with diving affect pulmonary function acutely and can potentially cause prolonged effects that may accumulate gradually with repeated diving exposure. The diving environment provides a challenge to the lung, including exposure to high ambient pressure, altered gas characteristics and cardiovascular effects on the pulmonary circulation.

Barotrauma extended plus