Immersion pulmonary edema is a potentially serious and sometimes fatal diving accident. It can occur during tank dives as well as during snorkeling. When this happens, blood from the pulmonary capillaries seeps into the lung tissue and then into the alveoli, creating more or less marked respiratory symptoms. The diver not only has difficulty breathing, they can also cough up blood and see the oxygen level in the blood drop.
Immersion edema can affect all divers, regardless of age and previous health, but rather occurs in people over 40 years of age and certain diseases such as heart disease, valve disease, cardiac arrhythmia Where high blood pressure can predispose to this pathology. Symptoms usually go away within 24 hours, but pulmonary edema can also kill.
Dr Richard Moon, anesthesiologist and sports doctor in North Carolina (USA) followed 10 athletes who had experienced immersion pulmonary edema while participating in a triathlon. He found that in these athletes, immersion in cold water caused an exaggerated redistribution of blood from the extremities of the body to the chest, creating the conditions for edema. However, after giving them a small dose of sildenafil (the molecule better known as the name of viagra) blood pressure in the lungs has been reduced. The athletes were thus able to resume triathlon competitions without suffering from shortness of breath or respiratory distress.
The doctor and his team will now continue their research to rule out any potential side effects from the drug.
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