Nausea and abdominal discomfort--possible relation to aerophagia during diving: an epidemiologic study.
Gastrointestinal (GI) distension by gas expansion may be more of a problem in diving than is usually recognized. In response to a written questionnaire, 2053 scuba divers gave information about GI discomfort such as pain, nausea, and vomiting in connection with diving. One hundred and eleven reports (5.4% of 2053) were considered possible cases of significant GI distension because the majority of divers had their symptoms during ascent and a significant number of them got relief from belching. Difficult middle ear pressure equilibration was a particular problem among divers with GI symptoms. It may have induced frequent swallowing, causing air ingestion and consequent GI problems. Steep, head-first descents appear to have been employed in some dives, leading to GI discomfort presumably be creating large mouth-to-stomach gas-pressure differences. It was concluded that swallowing or any procedure leading to entry of gas into the stomach should be avoided and that belching during diving should be recommended.
Lundgren
C E
CE
Laboratory of Aviation and Naval Physiology, Department of Physiology and Medical Physics, University of Lund, Sweden.
Ornhagen
H
H
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000334:Aerophagy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004884:Eructation / Q000503:physiopathology; D013271:Gastric Dilatation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*