Blutdruck bei Sporttauchern im Wasser höher als an Land Blood

27. Wissenschaftlicher Kongress
26. – 29. November 2003
Blutdruck bei Sporttauchern im Wasser höher als an Land
Blood Pressure in Sportsdivers under Water higher than on Land
Almeling, M., Witten, F., Niklas, A.
Universität Göttingen , Zentrum Anaesthesiologie, Rettungs- und Intensivmedizin, Institut für Sportmedizin (Direktor: Prof. Dr. Dr. A. Niklas)
BACKGROUND:
MATERIAL AND METHOD I:
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 sport divers in Germany (about 1.5
million), fitness to dive testing becomes more and more
important.
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 (BP)
and heart rate (HR) during exercise under water.
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 (BP) continuously in a stress test
under water and compare it to data found in standard bicycle
tests on land.
The tested person was asked to spin against the resistance of
the ergometer on land (land) and in a second attempt in water
(water). The capacity was stepwise increased by 30 Watts every
3 minutes, until the individual reached the maximum tolerable
workload.
RESULTS I:
MATERIAL AND METHOD II:
F
G
H
A
B
C
I
J
D
E
K
L
M
N
O
P
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
: Ergo on land
: Electric split
: ECG / Video
: BP-Unit
: Ergo in water
: Splash wall
: Gas analysis
: Control box
: Expiration gas
: Safety diver
: Expir. gas tube
: Equilibr. valve
: BP-instrument
: Video camera
: Water level
: BP- cuff
RESULTS II:
Table 1: Systolic BP water (blue) and land (red)
during different stress levels
Table 3: Heart rate water (blue) and land (red)
during different stress levels
The parameters found during standardised spiro-ergometry test
on land with the above-described test in a depth of 117 kPa (1.7
meters) (water) were compared in the test group. Systolic blood
pressure while testing in water compared to ergometric testing
on land at the same O2-uptake level was significantly higher at
rest (∆25mmHg) as well as under stress (maximum at 150 Watt
= ∆45mmHg) [Table 1 / 2].
Comparing gross-capacity (adjusted Watt at the ergometer, plus
additionally 32 Watt water resistance of ergometer) “water” to
“land” by using the systolic blood pressure, we found systolic
blood pressure highly significant elevated “water” to “land” [Table
1 / 2].
Although the “dive reflex” of men should lead to a lower heart
rate (HR) while immersed it was significantly higher stressed in
“water” compared to “land” testing.
CONCLUSIONS:
Table 2: Difference of all systolic BP-values of
all participants; water minus land values
[∆=1/n Σ (BPwater-BPland)]
1.The tested experimental set up is able to measure oxygen
uptake, blood pressure and heart rate in under water stress
testing.
2. While evaluating the water resistance of the ergometer in
water, the set up leads to comparable physiological date
comparing oxygen uptake as the main marker for physical
workload under different stress levels.
3. Comparable workload lead to significant higher blood pressure
and heart rate levels in underwater strain compared to identical
activity on land.
4. Comparable workload lead to significant higher heart rate
levels in water compared to land.
5. Further testing for defining the “normal” stress levels of sports
divers should be done.
6. Until those stress levels are known, person with risk factors
related to high blood pressure and increased heart rate should
be selected “not fit for diving”.
Table 4: Difference off all heart rates of all
participants water minus land values
[∆ =1/n Σ(HRwater-HRland)]
Remark:
The study was proved by the ethic committee of Göttingen University.
All technical equipment was pre-testing checked by TÜV Hannover.
Communication:
Dr. med. Michael Almeling, Neuer Garten 1A, 34454 Bad Arolsen
[email protected] / www.Tauchmedizin.net