A good dive exam should cover a number of different areas that a doctor should be looking for. The general examination includes checking for cardiovascular fitness and gastrointestinal function, visual ability, and barotrauma. Your doctor may recommend additional tests like x-rays to help you assess your diving abilities. If you have had ear infections in the past, it is important to discuss this with your doctor. However, even if you don't have a history of ear infections, a dive physical will provide the necessary information.
Checking out cardiovascular fitness
It is essential to assess your cardiovascular health before diving as a hobby and/or career. Although it may seem easy, this is not an easy task. For example, you shouldn't sign up for a diving course if you can't even walk a block! It is better to exercise 20 minutes four to five time per week. Even walking for a mile is not enough.
Examining the gastrointestinal function
Examining gastrointestinal function during a scuba dive physical is extremely important because ischemic colitis can occur during a diving expedition. Although divers may experience belching or abdominal discomfort, there is not much information about severe gastrointestinal complications. A few rare conditions of the gastrointestinal system have been reported. These include gastric rupture from intra-gastric expansion and massive pneumoperitoneum which result from lung barotrauma. However, mesenteric vein thrombosis, acute ischemic colitis, and hemorrhagic colitis have never been linked to scuba diving.
Examining visual acuity
Diver physicals are used to verify that divers can perform the skills required and to evaluate a diver's eyesight. A visual acuity questionnaire will be completed by the professional to determine if a diver is able to see clearly. While the objective is to assess a diver's distance and near vision, the test also measures a person's visual acuity.
Do you suspect that your barotrauma is present?
If you're going scuba diving, you should take extra precautions to check for barotrauma. The word barotrauma is derived from the Greek words baros, meaning pressure, and trauma, which means injury. Dive pressure can cause damage or rupture to the eardrums. It can also be caused by diving with a cold. It can also lead to symptoms like vomiting or pain.
Asthma screening
Before going on a dive vacation, your physician should be consulted if you believe you might have asthma. Dive vacations can trigger asthma symptoms, which can make it worse or worsen. Asthma treatment can be provided by your doctor with oral steroids. You should always keep an inhaler onboard your dive boat as a precaution. Your physician can also run an exercise test to evaluate your asthma, and perform a lung function test to determine the severity of your condition.