Low Platelet count
Q: I have been diagnosed with low platelets. Is it OK to dive?
Before you dive, you and your doctor should consider some possible effects of having a low platelet count. In some cases, it may affect the body’s ability to clot properly in response to injury. Cuts and bruises are common injuries in almost any recreational outdoor activity, so you should take extra care to avoid cuts and scrapes.
Middle-ear and sinus barotraumas are the most common dive injuries. They are typically self-limited, because normal coagulation stops the internal bleeding, giving divers time to seek professional medical treatment. When a diver has issues with clotting, pressure on the wound will control bleeding. Since pressure is not possible with internal bleeding, however, ordinary ear, nose, and throat barotraumas can become medical emergencies.
Decompression injuries add another dimension to bleeding risk, as bubble formation and growth cause microscopic tissue damage through mechanical tissue disruption and normal inflammatory processes. Coagulation can control these micro-bleeds, and recompression therapy can revert bubble growth, wash out inert gas, and minimize inflammation. When a diver has clotting issues, however, the micro-bleeding caused by bubbles can reduce the effectiveness of recompression therapy. This problem can be critical in severe cases, such as spinal cord involvement or an arterial gas embolism.
— Ben Strelnick, NREMT, W-EMT
Before you dive, you and your doctor should consider some possible effects of having a low platelet count. In some cases, it may affect the body’s ability to clot properly in response to injury. Cuts and bruises are common injuries in almost any recreational outdoor activity, so you should take extra care to avoid cuts and scrapes.
Middle-ear and sinus barotraumas are the most common dive injuries. They are typically self-limited, because normal coagulation stops the internal bleeding, giving divers time to seek professional medical treatment. When a diver has issues with clotting, pressure on the wound will control bleeding. Since pressure is not possible with internal bleeding, however, ordinary ear, nose, and throat barotraumas can become medical emergencies.
Decompression injuries add another dimension to bleeding risk, as bubble formation and growth cause microscopic tissue damage through mechanical tissue disruption and normal inflammatory processes. Coagulation can control these micro-bleeds, and recompression therapy can revert bubble growth, wash out inert gas, and minimize inflammation. When a diver has clotting issues, however, the micro-bleeding caused by bubbles can reduce the effectiveness of recompression therapy. This problem can be critical in severe cases, such as spinal cord involvement or an arterial gas embolism.
— Ben Strelnick, NREMT, W-EMT
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