Recreational scuba diving: negative or positive effects of oxidative and cardiovascular stress?

Abstract

Environmental conditions and increased physical activity during scuba diving are followed by increased production of free radicals and disturbed redox balance. Redox balance disorder is associated with damage of cellular components, changes of cellular signaling pathways and alterations of gene expression. Oxidative stress leads to increased expression of sirtuins (SIRTs), molecules which play an important role in the antioxidant defense, due to their sensitivity to the changes in the redox status and their ability to regulate redox homeostasis. These facts make SIRTs interesting to be considered as molecules affected by scuba diving and in that sense, as potential biomarkers of oxidative status or possible drug targets in reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. In addition, SIRTs effects through currently known targets make them intriguing molecules which can act positively on health in general and whose expression can be induced by scuba diving.A demanding physical activity, as well as other circumstances present in scuba diving, has the greatest load on the cardiovascular function (CV). The mechanisms of CV response during scuba diving are still unclear, but diving-induced oxidative stress and the increase in SIRTs expression could be an important factor in CV adaptation. This review summarizes current knowledge on scuba diving-induced oxidative and CV stress and describes the important roles of SIRTs in the (patho)physiological processes caused by the redox balance disorder.

Cutis Marmorata skin decompression sickness is a manifestation of brainstem bubble embolization, not of local skin bubbles

“…This may be due to the fact that they are too small to be detected owing to the insufficiently high imaging resolution of ultrasonic equipment. The long-term consequences of these -asymptomatic -decompression-induced inflammatory phenomena are not clear [10].…”

Effect of scuba diving on the oxidant/antioxidant status, SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression in recreational divers after a winter nondive period

“…Contrary to the technical scuba diving, performed by professional divers at demanding depths using different gas mixtures, recreational or sports scuba diving implies diving to a depth of not more than 40 m, using only compressed air or nitrox (mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with no more than 40% oxygen), and never requiring a mandatory decompression stop [1]. In any case, scuba diving represents a special form of exercise-induced oxidative stress since the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a result not only of a demanding physical activity but also of the exposure to low temperature and hyperoxia, which occurs due to exposure to the elevated pressure and breathing oxygen under increased pressure [2]. High production of ROS causes oxidative damage of the cellular structures such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and the accumulation of these damages can result in relevant changes in health status [3].…”

Acute Biochemical, Cardiovascular, and Autonomic Response to Hyperbaric (4 atm) Exposure in Healthy Subjects

“…Ongoing studies suggest that diving is associated with changes in oxidative stress and the increased expression of regulatory proteins [13] the consequences of which are unclear. Changes in CV function after recreational or professional diving have been observed in many studies but it has frequently been concluded that confounding factors, such as physical activity or temperature, are the cause of any changes detected [14, 15].…”