gms | German Medical Science

27. Wissenschaftlicher Kongress der Deutschen Hochdruckliga

Deutsche Liga zur Bekämpfung des hohen Blutdrucks – Deutsche Hypertonie Gesellschaft e. V.

26. bis 29.11.2003, Bonn

Blood Pressure in Sportsdivers under Water higher than on Land

Blutdruck bei Sporttauchern im Wasser höher als an Land

Meeting Abstract (Hypertonie 2003)

Suche in Medline nach

  • F. Witten - Universität Göttingen (Bad Arolsen, Wolfsburg, Göttingen, D)
  • presenting/speaker M. Almeling - Universität Göttingen (Bad Arolsen, Wolfsburg, Göttingen, D)
  • A. Niklas - Universität Göttingen (Bad Arolsen, Wolfsburg, Göttingen, D)

Hypertonie 2003. 27. Wissenschaftlicher Kongress der Deutschen Hochdruckliga. Bonn, 26.-29.11.2003. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc03hochP46

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/hoch2003/03hoch146.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 11. November 2004

© 2004 Witten et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

Background

A lot of attempts have been made to measure physical stress of immersed men and to compare it with non-immersed. Because of an increasing number of sportsdivers in Germany (about 1.5 million), fitness to dive testing becomes more and more important. Besides others bicycle stress tests are used to show physical fitness. To our knowledge none of the existing studies was able to measure blood pressure continuously in a stress test under water and compare it to data found in standard bicycle tests on land.

Materials and Methods

We adapted a standard ergometer for underwater use (whole body immersion) and stressed the tested person (n=31) with defined workload above and under water. We also developed special valves to measure oxygen uptake, blood pressure and heart rate during exercise under water.

The tested person was asked to spin against the resistance of the ergometer on land (dry) and in a second attempt in water (wet). The capacity was stepwise increased by 30 Watts every 3 minutes, until the individual reached the maximum tolerable workload.

Results

The parameters found during standardised spiro-ergometry test on land (dry) with the above-described test in a depth of 117 kPa (1.7 meters) (wet) were compared in the test group. Systolic blood pressure "wet" compared to "dry" [Fig. 1] at the same O2-uptake level was significantly higher at rest (D25mmHg) as well as under maximum stress (D45mmHg). Comparing gross-capacity (adjusted Watt at the ergometer, plus additionally 32 Watt water resistance of ergometer) "wet" to "dry" by using the systolic blood pressure, we found systolic blood pressure highly significant elevated "wet" to "dry". Additionally the heart rate was significantly higher in "wet" compared to "dry" tests.

Conclusion

Comparable workload lead to significant higher blood pressure and heart rate levels in underwater strain compared to identical activity on land. Person with risk factors related to high blood pressure should be selected "not fit for diving".

Remark

The study was proved by the ethic committee of Göttingen University. All technical equipment was pre-testing checked by TÜV Hanover.