Immersion pulmonary edema is a potentially serious and sometimes fatal diving accident. It can occur during scuba diving as well as during apnea diving. 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 but may also cough up blood and see the blood oxygen level drop.
Immersion edema can affect all divers, regardless of their age and previous state of health, but it tends to occur in people over 40 and certain diseases such as heart diseasevalve disease, heart arrhythmia Where high blood pressure may predispose to this pathology. Symptoms usually disappear within 24 hours, but pulmonary edema can also kill.
Dr. Richard Moon, anesthesiologist and sports physician in North Carolina (USA) followed 10 athletes who had suffered 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 was 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 in order to eliminate any potential adverse effects of the drug.
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