Samuel “Sam” Gerson, MD, stands out as both a credentialed emergency medicine physician and an open water scuba instructor. In addition, Dr. Sam Gerson serves as a research diver with the American Academy of Underwater Scientists.
Scuba diving places intense demands on the participant's body. The environment of increased pressure can be extremely dangerous to a person with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions. Similarly, a patient with an open foramen ovale in the heart may be at increased risk of nitrogen gas bubbles leaking into the arterial system, which can cause cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) or acute decompression illness (DCI) .
Furthermore, because diving requires strong lungs with the ability to breathe evenly, patients with asthma and other bronchial conditions may not be able to dive. Psychological conditions such as anxiety or panic disorder, which can affect breathing rates in the case of an attack, may also preclude approval. Any neurological condition that may lead to loss of consciousness, disorientation, or seizures can be extremely dangerous for a diver, as well, as can conditions of the ear, nose, or throat that affect pressure inside the head.
Scuba diving places intense demands on the participant's body. The environment of increased pressure can be extremely dangerous to a person with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular conditions. Similarly, a patient with an open foramen ovale in the heart may be at increased risk of nitrogen gas bubbles leaking into the arterial system, which can cause cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) or acute decompression illness (DCI) .
Furthermore, because diving requires strong lungs with the ability to breathe evenly, patients with asthma and other bronchial conditions may not be able to dive. Psychological conditions such as anxiety or panic disorder, which can affect breathing rates in the case of an attack, may also preclude approval. Any neurological condition that may lead to loss of consciousness, disorientation, or seizures can be extremely dangerous for a diver, as well, as can conditions of the ear, nose, or throat that affect pressure inside the head.