After almost 40 years away from freedive spearfishing I have decided to get back in the water for some healthy exercise. But I have hit a snag.
A few months ago I was diagnosed with asthma. My Doc said I had had it all my life. Hmmm. I never knew it. I thought everyone breathed like I did. So now I am taking medication for the ashtma and shots for allergies that I also never knew I had. While those are not good they are not the problem.
The problem is that after all these years with undiagnosed asthma and allergies, my body has adapted by expanding my lungs and ribcage. Now that might sound like the ideal situation for a freediver. Larger lung capacity and an expanded ribcage are what everyone wants, right? Well, not in my case. With all that expansion my ribcage and lungs have lost elasticity and I am stuck with a high residual volume. What that means is I cannot clear the air out of my lungs very well and you know what that means.
Of course, if I could be able to regain some of my old flexibility I would be in pig heaven. Anybody here with the same problem and with a solution to reduce the high residual volume of a long time asthmatic?
I spoke to my Doc about it and he said there is nothing that can be done. But, he is neither a dive doctor or a diver.
Thoughts anyone?
Thanks
oneoldude
A few months ago I was diagnosed with asthma. My Doc said I had had it all my life. Hmmm. I never knew it. I thought everyone breathed like I did. So now I am taking medication for the ashtma and shots for allergies that I also never knew I had. While those are not good they are not the problem.
The problem is that after all these years with undiagnosed asthma and allergies, my body has adapted by expanding my lungs and ribcage. Now that might sound like the ideal situation for a freediver. Larger lung capacity and an expanded ribcage are what everyone wants, right? Well, not in my case. With all that expansion my ribcage and lungs have lost elasticity and I am stuck with a high residual volume. What that means is I cannot clear the air out of my lungs very well and you know what that means.
Of course, if I could be able to regain some of my old flexibility I would be in pig heaven. Anybody here with the same problem and with a solution to reduce the high residual volume of a long time asthmatic?
I spoke to my Doc about it and he said there is nothing that can be done. But, he is neither a dive doctor or a diver.
Thoughts anyone?
Thanks
oneoldude
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