Has there been any research that actually compares the Bradycardia and Vasoconstriction associated with diving, to the Bradycardia and Vasoconstriction associated outside of diving (dry apnea)?
There is much reference to the mammalian diving reflex occuring due to water pressure and water temperatures. However, one can clearly see bradycardia occuring just by holding one's breath dry. I believe, as well, vasoconstriction occurs under these conditions when one stays relaxed (there are ways of hindering vasoconstriction as well). Therefore it would seem the only mammalian diving reflex that occurs mainly due to water, would be blood shifts.
It is quite possible that the water accelerates or increases these (bradycardia and vasoconstriction) symptoms of apnea, but it just seems misleading to associate the symptoms of apnea with water in an educational sense. Of course one can say apnea and the bodies response to it, are strongly related to the bodies evolution and association with diving from a time when that was relevant to our activity. But that does not change the details of its workings.
I wonder if we have not found a simple explanation and therefore focused on the wrong area for the foundational triggers of mammalian diving reflexes. Of course it is very romantic to imply that only those who dive experience mammalian diving reflex, which is probably very misleading.
So this probing and exploration is intended to determine whether this is a truthful statement:
"it just seems misleading to associate the symptoms of apnea with water, from an educational sense"
Cheers,
Tyler
There is much reference to the mammalian diving reflex occuring due to water pressure and water temperatures. However, one can clearly see bradycardia occuring just by holding one's breath dry. I believe, as well, vasoconstriction occurs under these conditions when one stays relaxed (there are ways of hindering vasoconstriction as well). Therefore it would seem the only mammalian diving reflex that occurs mainly due to water, would be blood shifts.
It is quite possible that the water accelerates or increases these (bradycardia and vasoconstriction) symptoms of apnea, but it just seems misleading to associate the symptoms of apnea with water in an educational sense. Of course one can say apnea and the bodies response to it, are strongly related to the bodies evolution and association with diving from a time when that was relevant to our activity. But that does not change the details of its workings.
I wonder if we have not found a simple explanation and therefore focused on the wrong area for the foundational triggers of mammalian diving reflexes. Of course it is very romantic to imply that only those who dive experience mammalian diving reflex, which is probably very misleading.
So this probing and exploration is intended to determine whether this is a truthful statement:
"it just seems misleading to associate the symptoms of apnea with water, from an educational sense"
Cheers,
Tyler