Diving, whether done with tanks or freediving, is much more than just a hobby. It is a source of happiness, regeneration, and calming, accessible to all ages and all stress levels. For more fragile individuals, it can even become a valuable support.
Diving and Health: A Winning Duo
Diving is increasingly being integrated into the medical field, whether for prevention, relief of diseases, or to help overcome difficult challenges such as disabilities, cancer, or trauma.
It is well known that sports activity is beneficial for health, but diving offers additional advantages. According to Dr. Anne Henckes, from the hyperbaric medicine unit of the CHRU of Brest, it helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers, while limiting the risks of complications or recurrences. Furthermore, it allows people with mobility issues to engage in a suitable physical activity.
Physiological Mechanisms at Play
Immersion causes compression of soft tissues and a redistribution of blood mass towards the thorax, a phenomenon called hydrostatic pressure. Dr. Mathieu Coulange, head of the hyperbaric, underwater, and maritime medicine department at Sainte-Marguerite Hospital in Marseille, explains that the slow and deep breathing induced by the use of a regulator promotes the distension of the carotids. This distension stimulates pressure receptors that reactivate the parasympathetic system, essential for the proper functioning of the body. This mechanism, also known as cardiac coherence, is one of the main factors explaining the benefits of diving on stress-related pathologies.
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