The Heart & Diving

Developed by medical professionals, DAN’s 56-page Heart & Diving booklet discusses important cardiac topics such as cardiovascular disease, structural heart anomalies, ischemic heart disease and heart arrhythmias. These conditions account for nearly 1/3 of all diving fatalities and can’t be overlooked before getting into the water because immersion places significant stressors on the body – especially on the heart and circulatory system. Knowing your risk factors and identifying signs of abnormalities are critically important to a safe diving experience.

This booklet includes heart & diving information including:

• Basics of your heart and circulatory system
  • How diving affects your heart and circulatory system
  • Cardiac health and your risk of death while diving
  • Understanding the concept of aerobic exercise capacity
  • The effects of aging on your cardiovascular system
  • Calculating physical activity intensity
  • Placing the risks and benefits of physical activity in perspective
    
    
• Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
  • Cardiovascular risk factors
  • Hypertension
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Metabolic syndrome
    
    
• Structural anomalies of the heart
  • Overview of valvular disorders
  • Mitral valve prolapse
  • Patent foramen ovale
    
    
• Ischemic heart disease
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Issues involving coronary artery bypass grafts
  • Issues particular to women
    
    
• Arrhythmias
  • Syncope
  • Extrasystole
  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Sudden cardiac arrest
  • Issues involving implanted pacemakers