A good dive physical should include a few parts that a professional should examine. General examinations include visual acuity, cardiovascular fitness, visual acuity, barotrauma, and gastrointestinal function. Doctors may also recommend additional tests, such as x-rays, to further assess your diving abilities. If you have any history of ear infection, it is important to speak with your physician. You don't need to have a history of ear problems, but a dive physical will help you get the right information.
The importance of cardiovascular fitness
Before diving as a hobby/career, it is important to assess your cardiovascular endurance. This may sound like a simple task, but it is not. If you are unable to walk a block, don't sign up for a diving class. You should instead exercise for 20 minutes four- to five times per week. You may need to walk a few miles.
Examining the digestive function
A scuba dive physical should include a thorough examination of the gastrointestinal function. This is because ischemic complications can arise during diving expeditions. While divers might experience abdominal discomfort and belching, little information is available about the severity of gastrointestinal complications. Rare gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastric leakage due to intra-gastric pressure expansion and massive pneumoperitoneum (which results from lung barotrauma), have been reported. 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. To determine if a diver has good vision, the diving professional will ask him or her to complete a visual acuity questionnaire. Although the goal of the test is to evaluate a diver's near and distant vision, it also measures the person's visual acuity.
Examining for barotrauma
If you plan to scuba dive, it is important that you take extra precautions in order to avoid barotrauma. Barotrauma derives its name from the Greek words baros which is pressure and trauma which refers to injury. When the pressure changes during diving, it can cause damage or even complete rupture to certain parts of the ear. If you have a cold or congestion, diving can cause this condition. It can also lead to symptoms like vomiting or pain.
Asthma Testing
You should see your physician if you suspect that you have asthma before you dive. You can experience asthma symptoms that can get worse or worse, and even trigger by diving. Oral steroids can be prescribed by your doctor to treat your asthma. 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.