Winter2016AlertDiver

WINTER 2016

RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE

FROM THE MEDICAL LINE

Lately I feel

like I’m getting

sunburned

much more easily than

I used to. I am taking

a new medication; is

there any chance that

could be the cause?

Sunshine is a

welcome addition

to just about

any day spent outdoors.

For many people, a

hat, a T-shirt and some

sunscreen are sufficient

to limit the negative

effects of sun exposure.

However, certain

medications can make

people more sensitive to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV)

rays; this is called photosensitivity. Both regularly and

temporarily used medications can cause photosensitivity.

Minor symptoms include skin reddening, itching or

rash; more serious symptoms include a burn, blisters

and discoloration or darkening of the skin. Report any

significant or unusual reaction to a medication combined

with sun exposure to your prescribing or primary care

physician. Some reactions are serious.

There are more than 100 medications, both

prescription and over-the-counter, that can cause

increased susceptibility to UV rays, and these include

both oral and topical medications. The best policy

is to first read the label of any medication you take

and then ask your physician and/or pharmacist about

photosensitivity before exposure to the sun (or a

tanning bed).

Drugs that may cause photosensitivity include

antibiotics, antihistamines, cardiovascular medications

(such as diuretics and blood pressure medications),

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen,

indomethacin), some antidepressants and some

antipsychotic medications.

Taking a medication that can cause photosensitivity

doesn’t mean you have to avoid outdoor activities, it

just means you should take extra precautions to lessen

your exposure to UV light. Consider wearing a wide-

brimmed hat, long sleeves and long pants, and reapply

your sunscreen more frequently. Stay indoors around

mid-day if possible, and seek shade when you’re outside.

— Joel Dovenbarger, BSN

I have been diving for 15 years without

problems, but on my last couple of trips I

experienced pain in my upper left abdomen

under my ribs about 15-30 minutes into a dive. It

becomes increasingly painful over the rest of the dive.

I am healthy, take no prescription medications and

exercise regularly. I usually take antacids prior to

diving. I do not have this pain any other time. It gets

more uncomfortable during ascent but goes away

shortly after I get out of the water. It is starting to

take the fun out of diving. Any suggestions?

Please note that we cannot diagnose you; you

really need to be evaluated by a physician.

Because your abdominal pain seems to change

with pressure, it may be due to the expansion of gas in

your gastrointestinal system. The increased discomfort

during ascent in particular suggests trapped gas as

a possibility. It could be normal gas resulting from

digestion, or it could be from drinking carbonated

beverages. Avoiding gassy foods such as beans, broccoli,

cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables may help.

Many divers stay away from sodas prior to diving to

limit the amount of gas in the gastrointestinal system.

This may be evidence of a hernia. During ascent

an isolated segment of bowel containing excess or

expanding gas can expand, which may cause pain or

injury. People should not dive with an unrepaired hernia.

Other sources of abdominal pain include reflux, an

irritated ulcer and other causes, but pain caused by these

factors would be expected to occur at other times as well.

STEPHEN FRINK