Costantino Balestra

Peter Germonpré

You will find in this book some valuable and reliable lessons about safe diving The editors of and authors of this book are a cadre of scientists and physicians with broad experience and knowledge of diving physiology and decompression theory. As is often the case, it requires a group effort to succeed in advancing practical knowledge. The colloquialism "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" is often true and the PHYPODE Reasearch Group epitomizes this concept. By logically grouping the various elements of diving science and medicine with provocative "food for thought" sections, the text offers valuable lessons to those interested in the current state of diving. Despite nearly 170 years of reasearch, the fundamenal nature of decompression stress remains elusive. As is well outlined in this book, great advances have been made to the practical elements allowing for safe diving. Nonetheless, there are glaring voids of knowledge related to the nature of bubble nucleation, its consequences and methods to ameliorate risk. The synergy exhibited in this text not only provides a foundation for what is known, it offers a glimpse of where research is taking us. - Professor Stephen R. Thom, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine This is a book for all diving fans who want to discover their passion through a scientific approach. EXCERPT Decompression illnesses (DCI), or as they are called more scientifically: dysbaric disorders, represent a complex spectrum of pathophysiological conditions with a wide variety of signs and symptoms related to dissolved gas and its subsequent phase change.1, 2 Any significant organic or functional dysfunction in individuals who have recently been exposed to a reduction in environmental pressure (i.e., decompression) must be considered as possibly being caused by DCI until proven otherwise. However, apart from the more obvious acute manifestations of a single, sudden decompression, individuals who have experienced repetitive exposures (e.g. commercial or professional divers and active recreational divers) may also develop sub-acute or chronic manifestations, even if subtle and almost symptomless. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dr. Costantino Balestra started to study neurophysiology of fatigue then started studies on environmental physiology issues. He teaches physiology, biostatistics, research methodology, as well as other subjects. He Is the Director of the Integrative Physiology Laboratory and a full time professor at the Haute Ecole Bruxelles-Brabant (Brussels). He is VP of DAN Europe for research and education, Immediate past President of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society. Peter Germonpré is the Medical Director of the Centre for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy of the Military Hospital Brussels, Belgium).

Practical and Theoretical Knowledge

Diving Deeper into SCUBA... Science

Simon Pridmore

Peter Germonpre

If you are a diver, what you learned about topics such as decompression sickness and narcosis in your scuba diving classes is unlikely to have been as complete as you thought. Most of it will have been over-simplified and some of it will just have been plain wrong, as diver training agency texts have not kept pace with the science. Scuba Physiological gives you a chance to catch up. A recent book called The Science of Diving was a collation of work done by scientists in the field of decompression research as part of a three-year project called PHYPODE (Physiology of Decompression). The book did not reach the diving public; mainly because it was written by scientists for other scientists and they speak a different language than most of us. Simon Pridmore is not an expert on diving medicine but he knows something good when he sees it. When Simon read The Science of Diving (with help from Google), he thought it was worthwhile working on it to try to make it more accessible. The original authors agreed that this was a good idea and Scuba Physiological is the result. There have been great advances to make diving safer, but, despite nearly 170 years of research, the fundamental nature of decompression sickness and decompression stress remains unknown and there are still glaring gaps in our knowledge. Scuba Physiological provides a good summary of what we know, as well as a glimpse of where the science is taking us and some invaluable tips to make you a safer diver now. Among many other things, you will learn: 1. Pre-dive hydration, exposure to heat, whole body vibration and oxygen breathing may reduce the risk of DCS. 2. Post-dive, our bodies have most bubbles running around them 30 to 40 minutes AFTER we have surfaced. Post-dive hydration and certain other post-dive behaviours are therefore also essential. 3. The effects of nitrogen narcosis continue for a period of time AFTER a dive. 4. All dive computers have a known DCS risk rate. 5. Exercise during the period up to 120 minutes after surfacing may increase your risk of DCS. 6. Never use a weightlifter's breath-hold and release technique when pulling yourself into the boat post-dive. 7. A little dark chocolate before a dive may be a good thing for you. What the experts say: "This book makes it easy to understand the latest discoveries in diving research and our current understanding of what happens to our bodies when we dive." JP Imbert: Decompression designer and technical diving pioneer "There are some lovely thought-provoking ideas and questioning of current dogma. This book is well worth the read. " Dr Ian Sibley-Calder, HSE Approved Medical Examiner of Divers, Occupational Health Physician "If you ask a lay person what causes DCS they will likely tell you, "I don't know, I think it has something to do with bubbles". If you ask a dive instructor they might discuss things like shaking a soda bottle. And, if you ask a physician, you may get an account referring to things like leukocyte adhesion, the coagulation of components inside a vein and the endothelium lining. Finally, you find one of the top people in the world who do hyperbaric research on divers, ask them the same question and they will say, "I don't know, I think it has something to do with bubbles. The bottom line is that we don't necessarily know what causes DCS. This book is an excellent discussion of what the third person you asked in the above scenario might say. It is an enjoyable, simplified read of a complex subject and easy for a non-scientist to comprehend. I consider this an essential text for every diver's shelf." Joseph Dituri PhD (c), CDR, US Navy Saturation Diving

Think You Know All About Scuba Medicine? Think Again!

Scuba Physiological

Jacek Kot

Shai Efrati

François Guerrero

Jean-Eric Blatteau

Stéphane Besnard

Understanding how humans cope in extreme environments has expanded our knowledge of the physiological and psychological challenges involved and helped us to quit our comfortable paradigms built on “steady states”. Furthermore, measuring our reactions to intermittent stressors and determining the oscillations of our coping mechanisms has led us to unexpected understandings. This methodology has also directly improved our translational or multidisciplinary approach to the subject. Studying healthy individuals in extreme environments could improve our understanding of patients with impaired physiological capacities (who are coping with an environment that becomes extreme to them) and also improve our understanding of physiology and psychology in the elderly.This eBook collects articles that address this translational multidisciplinary approach in an integrative way. As a whole, this Research Topic aims to better understand human/animal physiology and psychology.

Coping With Extreme Environments: A Physiological/Psychological Approach

Costantino Balestra

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