A study to elicit human diving response in cold water and to record the blood pressure adjustments in healthy voluntary participants on laboratory basis.

Abstract

Aim- To determine the blood pressure (BP) changes in a simulated dive. Objective- To trigger human diving response in laboratory and to measure BP changes. Material and Method- Thirty healthy volunteers with no cardio-respiratory illness participated in this study. To simulate dive in laboratory basis, the volunteers were asked to submerge their head in a water (at around 15 ⁰C) filled plastic tub and hold their breath for 30 seconds. Their BP was measured using an automated instrument (Schiller’s multipara monitor). Results- Holding breath in cold water has shown a significant change in systolic BP from an average of 127.8 mmHg to 134.6 mmHg (p value 0.016). While the diastolic BP shown a nonsignificant change from an average of 76.7 mmHg to 80.03 mmHg (p value 0.17).
Conclusion- This laboratory-based study succeeded in eliciting human diving response and has made this complex response easy to perform, understand, and can be used in further studies involving drowning rescue. Additionally, it was observed that cold water diving leads to increase in systolic BP.