Age Advice
July 2003
By Selene Yeager
Every year, 4 million Americans hit the big 5-0. Every single day, 5,500 turn 65. It's a time for rest, relaxation and repose--yeah, right. Unlike generations past, today's older adults would rather celebrate their newfound seniority on a shipwreck at 100 feet than on a cruise ship playing shuffleboard.
Fifty, sixty and beyond just don't sound as old to us as they used to. What's more, older divers often have more free time and fatter bank accounts to spend on lengthy dive vacations in exotic locales. Given the choice, we all want to dive forever. But some worry that they're putting their life at risk by not "acting their age."
"We don't know as much about the aging process as we'd like, especially how it affects a sport like scuba," admits Richard Moon, M.D., clinical director of the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology. "Most scuba studies have been done on Navy divers--young, fit men. Older divers? Older women divers? There's very little research there."
We do know that advancing years bring a natural physical decline, as well as a slew of age-related health issues such as hardening of the arteries and pulmonary disease that can spell high risk for divers. "Generally speaking, however, healthy divers of any age can enjoy the sport safely. They just have to be smart about their potential limitations," says Dr. Moon.
The Great Gas Exchange
The biggest worry many older divers have should actually be their smallest--namely, getting bent.
A few years ago, some DAN-sponsored researchers used a Doppler device to detect venous gas emboli ("bubbles") over the hearts of divers. They found 30 percent more bubbles in divers who were in their late 50s than those in their early 30s. They concluded that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for folks over 60 to stick to shallow waters.
When researchers have tried to find a direct connection between age and decompression illness, they come up empty-handed, says longtime diver Lewis Kohl, M.D., chairman of emergency medicine at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. "It's true that pulmonary function naturally declines over time. But if you are healthy and reasonably fit, age doesn't automatically increase your risk for getting bent."
Likewise, advancing age doesn't increase your risk of carbon dioxide retention--a condition that can cause confusion and seizures, according to a Duke University study. "We wanted to see how age affected the ability to balance oxygen and carbon dioxide under the water pressures of a normal dive," says study researcher Dr. Moon. To their surprise, after a 60-foot, 45-minute dive, the older divers (ages 58 to 74) retained slightly more carbon dioxide, but it was clinically insignificant when compared to the younger divers (ages 19 to 39).
The Fitness Factor
Bubbles and carbon dioxide aside, there are changes that happen with age that increase your risks under water, says Dr. Kohl. Most importantly, your exercise capacity takes a dip. Your heart and lung function diminish, so you tire faster; you lose muscle tissue and strength, and as anyone over 30 knows, it gets harder to touch your toes as connective tissue becomes tight and stiff.
Newbies over 50--40 if they have risk factors for heart disease--should have their fitness evaluated, preferably with a stress test, by their doctor before they start diving, says Dr. Moon. "About 30 percent of people with heart disease become aware of it in sudden death. Another 30 percent become aware of it in a terrible event like a heart attack. It's much better to learn about a heart condition in a doctor's office than 60 feet under water and 1,000 miles from a decent hospital."
Likewise, if you haven't dived in a few years, get a checkup, urges Jeffrey Wilks, Ph.D., director of the Centre for Tourism and Risk Management at the University of Queensland in Australia. "Industry evidence shows that those who continue diving regularly maintain their diving skills and fitness. But we see people who dived once 20 years ago, who turn up again having gained weight, and maybe developed some health condition. They're the ones who are likely to get into trouble."
Age-Related Ills
Bumper-sticker wisdom tells us that "no one gets out of this life alive!" Well, darn few get out without a few nagging health conditions along the way, either. Here are some ailments common to older divers to watch out for:
HEART DISEASE. High cholesterol. Hypertension. Hardening of the arteries. All can increase your risk for heart attack down below. Again, get your doc's OK if you haven't been diving or are at high risk. If you take blood-pressure medications, tell your doctor you're a diver, so you get a prescription that fits your active lifestyle.
LUNG DISEASE. "Many older people today are former smokers," says Dr. Kohl. "If you're one, get a pulmonary test. It's quick, cheap and could save your life."
OSTEOPOROSIS. With age, bones naturally thin. When they get dangerously thin, you have osteoporosis. The big risk here is tripping and falling on deck, because the likelihood of breaking bones is high.
DIABETES. Diving with diabetes is controversial. Some experts say yes; others no. "If you've ever had a hypoglycemic reaction, however, I would advise against diving," says Dr. Kohl.
ARTHRITIS. If your joints are so stiff and painful that you can't readily clear your mask or get a slipped fin back on, you should think twice about diving, says Dr. Kohl.
Dive 'til You Drop
Let's face it: Golf is OK, but you really want to swim over reefs with schools of candy-colored fish until your grand finale. Here are some commonsense precautions that'll help keep you safe.
KEEP MOVING! Regular exercise slows age-related declines in physical ability and helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, obesity and more. "Being physically active is essential for diving longevity," says Dr. Kohl. Ideally, your routine should include 30 to 45 minutes of cardio like walking or swimming most days a week; weight training twice a week to maintain your muscle and strength, and some yoga or stretching to retain and restore flexibility. "Get your doctor's OK, and start with just a 20-minute walk around the neighborhood," suggests Dr. Kohl.
LIGHTEN UP. Weight-integrated BCs are convenient, but they place the weight forward in a position that can be tough to carry for older adults with tight backs and weak quadriceps. "It makes more sense for older adults to carry their weight around their waist in a stable position," says Dr. Kohl.
ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT. As we get older, our internal climate control becomes a little rusty, making it harder for us to cool down when it's hot and keep warm when it's cold. "Hypothermia is a concern in the water; and hyperthermia is a risk between dives," says Dr. Kohl. Staying physically fit helps offset this risk somewhat. But be smart: Bring extra layers, wear appropriate dive attire, and don't sit on deck and bake in a 7mm wetsuit if it's an hour and a half until your next dive.
USE YOUR HEAD. You didn't reach this age by being stupid, and this is no time to start. "These days, I avoid heavy currents and seas that are over three to five feet," says, Dick Stern, a 73-year-old diver from Florida. "Recently, I went out for a 120-foot wreck dive. I heard the divemaster talking about the currents, and I put my tank back on board and waited for the next dive. I know there'll always be another dive, and I want to be around for it."
July 2003
By Selene Yeager
Every year, 4 million Americans hit the big 5-0. Every single day, 5,500 turn 65. It's a time for rest, relaxation and repose--yeah, right. Unlike generations past, today's older adults would rather celebrate their newfound seniority on a shipwreck at 100 feet than on a cruise ship playing shuffleboard.
Fifty, sixty and beyond just don't sound as old to us as they used to. What's more, older divers often have more free time and fatter bank accounts to spend on lengthy dive vacations in exotic locales. Given the choice, we all want to dive forever. But some worry that they're putting their life at risk by not "acting their age."
"We don't know as much about the aging process as we'd like, especially how it affects a sport like scuba," admits Richard Moon, M.D., clinical director of the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology. "Most scuba studies have been done on Navy divers--young, fit men. Older divers? Older women divers? There's very little research there."
We do know that advancing years bring a natural physical decline, as well as a slew of age-related health issues such as hardening of the arteries and pulmonary disease that can spell high risk for divers. "Generally speaking, however, healthy divers of any age can enjoy the sport safely. They just have to be smart about their potential limitations," says Dr. Moon.
The Great Gas Exchange
The biggest worry many older divers have should actually be their smallest--namely, getting bent.
A few years ago, some DAN-sponsored researchers used a Doppler device to detect venous gas emboli ("bubbles") over the hearts of divers. They found 30 percent more bubbles in divers who were in their late 50s than those in their early 30s. They concluded that maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for folks over 60 to stick to shallow waters.
When researchers have tried to find a direct connection between age and decompression illness, they come up empty-handed, says longtime diver Lewis Kohl, M.D., chairman of emergency medicine at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. "It's true that pulmonary function naturally declines over time. But if you are healthy and reasonably fit, age doesn't automatically increase your risk for getting bent."
Likewise, advancing age doesn't increase your risk of carbon dioxide retention--a condition that can cause confusion and seizures, according to a Duke University study. "We wanted to see how age affected the ability to balance oxygen and carbon dioxide under the water pressures of a normal dive," says study researcher Dr. Moon. To their surprise, after a 60-foot, 45-minute dive, the older divers (ages 58 to 74) retained slightly more carbon dioxide, but it was clinically insignificant when compared to the younger divers (ages 19 to 39).
The Fitness Factor
Bubbles and carbon dioxide aside, there are changes that happen with age that increase your risks under water, says Dr. Kohl. Most importantly, your exercise capacity takes a dip. Your heart and lung function diminish, so you tire faster; you lose muscle tissue and strength, and as anyone over 30 knows, it gets harder to touch your toes as connective tissue becomes tight and stiff.
Newbies over 50--40 if they have risk factors for heart disease--should have their fitness evaluated, preferably with a stress test, by their doctor before they start diving, says Dr. Moon. "About 30 percent of people with heart disease become aware of it in sudden death. Another 30 percent become aware of it in a terrible event like a heart attack. It's much better to learn about a heart condition in a doctor's office than 60 feet under water and 1,000 miles from a decent hospital."
Likewise, if you haven't dived in a few years, get a checkup, urges Jeffrey Wilks, Ph.D., director of the Centre for Tourism and Risk Management at the University of Queensland in Australia. "Industry evidence shows that those who continue diving regularly maintain their diving skills and fitness. But we see people who dived once 20 years ago, who turn up again having gained weight, and maybe developed some health condition. They're the ones who are likely to get into trouble."
Age-Related Ills
Bumper-sticker wisdom tells us that "no one gets out of this life alive!" Well, darn few get out without a few nagging health conditions along the way, either. Here are some ailments common to older divers to watch out for:
HEART DISEASE. High cholesterol. Hypertension. Hardening of the arteries. All can increase your risk for heart attack down below. Again, get your doc's OK if you haven't been diving or are at high risk. If you take blood-pressure medications, tell your doctor you're a diver, so you get a prescription that fits your active lifestyle.
LUNG DISEASE. "Many older people today are former smokers," says Dr. Kohl. "If you're one, get a pulmonary test. It's quick, cheap and could save your life."
OSTEOPOROSIS. With age, bones naturally thin. When they get dangerously thin, you have osteoporosis. The big risk here is tripping and falling on deck, because the likelihood of breaking bones is high.
DIABETES. Diving with diabetes is controversial. Some experts say yes; others no. "If you've ever had a hypoglycemic reaction, however, I would advise against diving," says Dr. Kohl.
ARTHRITIS. If your joints are so stiff and painful that you can't readily clear your mask or get a slipped fin back on, you should think twice about diving, says Dr. Kohl.
Dive 'til You Drop
Let's face it: Golf is OK, but you really want to swim over reefs with schools of candy-colored fish until your grand finale. Here are some commonsense precautions that'll help keep you safe.
KEEP MOVING! Regular exercise slows age-related declines in physical ability and helps prevent heart disease, diabetes, obesity and more. "Being physically active is essential for diving longevity," says Dr. Kohl. Ideally, your routine should include 30 to 45 minutes of cardio like walking or swimming most days a week; weight training twice a week to maintain your muscle and strength, and some yoga or stretching to retain and restore flexibility. "Get your doctor's OK, and start with just a 20-minute walk around the neighborhood," suggests Dr. Kohl.
LIGHTEN UP. Weight-integrated BCs are convenient, but they place the weight forward in a position that can be tough to carry for older adults with tight backs and weak quadriceps. "It makes more sense for older adults to carry their weight around their waist in a stable position," says Dr. Kohl.
ADJUST YOUR THERMOSTAT. As we get older, our internal climate control becomes a little rusty, making it harder for us to cool down when it's hot and keep warm when it's cold. "Hypothermia is a concern in the water; and hyperthermia is a risk between dives," says Dr. Kohl. Staying physically fit helps offset this risk somewhat. But be smart: Bring extra layers, wear appropriate dive attire, and don't sit on deck and bake in a 7mm wetsuit if it's an hour and a half until your next dive.
USE YOUR HEAD. You didn't reach this age by being stupid, and this is no time to start. "These days, I avoid heavy currents and seas that are over three to five feet," says, Dick Stern, a 73-year-old diver from Florida. "Recently, I went out for a 120-foot wreck dive. I heard the divemaster talking about the currents, and I put my tank back on board and waited for the next dive. I know there'll always be another dive, and I want to be around for it."
