Lung squeeze and freediving

Czech version

Authors: R. Pudil
Authors‘ workplace: Interní kardioangiologická klinika LF UK a FN Hradec Králové, Lékařská komise svazu potápěčů České republiky
Published in: Pracov. Lék., 70, 2018, No. 3-4, s. 154-155.
Category:

Overview

Lung damage associated with breath-holding diving may be a condition of high risk, which can endanger the free-diver life. They are denoted as lung squeeze, and indicate a damage of the compressed lung which may come during diving. They become manifest as cough with expectoration of hemorrhaged sputum, thoracic pain, and the damage may be so serious that it results in unconsciousness, severe respiration insufficiency, cardiac arrest and possibly  death. Prevention of this damage to occur lies in a long-term training of the rib cage flexibility and increasing elasticity of the lung tissue, minimization of abrupt movements of the body and/or thorax during diving. At the present time procedures are sought to help uncover potentially threatening during training or sport competitions.

Keywords:

freediving – lung barotrauma – lung squeeze

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