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. 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. Even if you do not have any ear infections in the past, a dive medical will give you all the information that you need.
The importance of cardiovascular fitness
It is crucial to assess your cardiovascular condition before you consider diving as a hobby or career. It may seem simple, but it isn't. For example, you shouldn't sign up for a diving course if you can't even walk a block! You should be exercising for 20 minutes at least four to five days a week. Walking a mile might not be enough.
Examining the function of the stomach
Because ischemic colitis is possible during a diving expedition, it is crucial to check the digestive function of divers. Although divers may experience belching or abdominal discomfort, there is not much information about severe gastrointestinal complications. There have been rare cases of gastrointestinal problems, such as gastric rupture caused by intra-gastric air expansion or massive pneumoperitoneum. This is due to lung barotrauma. However, scuba diving has not been shown to cause mesenteric blood clotsis, acute Ischemia colitis, or hemorhagic Colitis.
Examining visual acuity
Dive physicals are done to make sure divers can perform the necessary skills and to assess a diver’s vision. To determine if a diver has good vision, the diving professional will ask him or her to complete a visual acuity questionnaire. The test is designed to measure a person's vision acuity and distance vision.
Examining for barotrauma
If you plan to scuba dive, it is important that you take extra precautions in order to avoid barotrauma. Barotrauma, which comes from the Greek word baros, which stands for pressure, and trauma, that stands for injury, is what you get. The pressure changes that occur during a dive can cause injury or damage to key parts of the ears. This can happen if the diver is suffering from congestion or a cold. It can also cause vomiting and pain.
Checking for Asthma
You should see your physician if you suspect that you have asthma before you dive. Your asthma symptoms can become more severe or less severe over time. They can also be triggered by diving. Your doctor can prescribe oral steroids to treat your asthma. You should always keep an inhaler onboard your dive boat as a precaution. A physician can perform an exercise test to assess your asthma and also do a test of your lung function to determine the severity.