Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrocardiographic aspects of skin diving

  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Electrocardiographic (ECG) aspects of skin diving were monitored by means of continuous ECG recording in a pool 15 m deep. Ten regularly trained divers with different levels of experience divid a minimum of three consecutive times, holding their beath, reaching depths of 6 m, 9 m, and 12 or 15 m. The water temperature was 28° C. During the ascending part of these dives, bradycardia was observed in all skin-divers. Minimal heart rate correlated negatively with the diver's experience (number of dives previously performed). In six divers cardiac arrhythmia was observed. Atrial arrhythmias were sometimes isolated occurrences, but more frequently they were multiple. Ventricular arrhythmias tended to be bigeminal. Apparently, forced expiration through the snorkel when sufacing precipitated these rhythmic disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aviado DM, Kalow W, Schmidt CF, Turnbel GL, Peskin GW, Ness M, Weiss AJ (1951) Respiratory and circulatory reflex from the perfused heart and pulmonary circulation of the dog. Am J Physiol 2:165–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Djiane P, Egre A, Bory M, Savin B, Mostepha S, Serradimigni A (1979) L'enregistrement électricardiographique chez les sujets normaux. Arch Mal Coeur 72:655–661

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elsner R, Gooden B (1963) Diving and asphyxia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Elsner R, Scolander PF (1965) Circulatory adaptations to diving in animals and man. In: Rahn H, Yokoyama T (eds) Physiology of breath hold diving and the Ama of Japan. Natl Acad Sci, Washington, pp 281–294

    Google Scholar 

  • Faris JV, Mac Henry PL, Jordan GW, Morris SN (1976) Prevalence and reproductibility of exercise induced ventricular arrhythmia during maximal exercise testing in normal men. Am J Cardiol 37:617–625

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friemel F, Cahen B, Larger C, Duizabo D, Seroussi S (1983) Modifications des propriétés élastiques des poumons au cours de la pratique de la plongée sous-marine. Med Sub Hyp 2:1–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauer OH, Henry JP (1976) Neurohormonal control of plasma volume Int Rev Physiol, Cardiovasc Physiol 9:145–190

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hugues T, Carter J, Wolf S (1981) Disorders of cardiac conduction accompanying the dive reflex in man. Pavlov J Biol Sci 16:25–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Irving L (1963) Bradycardia in human divers. J Appl Physiol 18:489–491

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancelin B (1980) Exploration et physiologie de la circulation pulmonaire. Conf Cardiol 27:82–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Lange L, Lange S, Echt M, Gauer OH (1974) Heart volume in relation to body posture and immersion in a thermoneutral bath. A roentgenometric study. Pflügers Arch 352:211–219

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Laurent M, Miam B, Almange C, Leborgne G (1982) Comparaison des données de l'épreuve d'effort et de l'enregistrement électrocardiographique continu chez des patients présentant des extrasystoles ventriculaires. Arch Mal Coeur 75:653–659

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mancia G, Lorenz RR, Sheperd JT (1976) Reflex control of circulation by heart and lungs. Int Rev Physiol Cardiovasc Physiol 9:111–144

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moore TO, Bernauer G, Seto YS, Park SK, Hong H, Hayasm EM (1970) Effect of immersion at different water temperature on graded exercise performance in man. Aerosp Med 41:1404–1408

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moore TO, Lin YC, Lally DA, Hong SK (1972) Effect of temperature, immersion and ambient pressure on human apneic bradycardia. J Appl Physiol 33:36–41

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paulev PE, Hansen HG (1972) Cardiac response to apnea and water immersion during exercise in man. J Appl Physiol 33:193–198

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sasamoto H (1965) The electrocardiogram pattern of the diving Ama. In: Rahn H, Yokoyama T (eds) Physiology of breath hold diving and the Ama of Japan. Natl Acad Sci, Washington, pp 271–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Sciarli RJ (1976) La médecine de plongée. Océan

  • Song SH, Lee WK, Chung YA, Hong SK (1969) Mechanism of apneic bradycardia in man. J Appl Physiol 27:323–327

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whayne TF, Killip T (1967) Simulated diving in man: comparison of facial stimuli and response in arrhythmia. J Appl Physiol 22:800–807

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf S (1965) The bradycardia of the dive reflex — a possible mechanism of sudden death. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc 76:192–200

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U. 138 - Explorations Fonctionnelles des Sportifs, CHU Henri Mondor, F-94010, Creteil Cédex, France

    A. Bonneau, F. Friemel & D. Lapierre

Authors
  1. A. Bonneau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. Friemel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. Lapierre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bonneau, A., Friemel, F. & Lapierre, D. Electrocardiographic aspects of skin diving. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 58, 487–493 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02330702

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02330702

Key words

Search

Navigation