27 replies to this topic

[No Pressure]

I take an aspirin a day while diving (and not cause of heart disease, some would say since I don't have one, it can't get diseased).
70-90% of divers "bubble", esp with multidive, multiday profiles. The vast majority of the bubbles are microscopic or "silent", meaning no discernable physiological effects. Standard thinking was that the effects of nitrogen in DCS is due to the physical obstruction/ pressure on tissue caused by a bubble of sufficient size. If we "come up slowly enough" our body can handle the offgassing nitrogen load, eliminating the nitrogen with normal breathing.
Well, nitrogen has other effects. It is considered a foreign substance in the blood stream, and the body recognizes that. Platelets are clotting substances in the blood, that initially respond to an abnormal surface (like a cut in the wall of a blood vessel, or cholesterol plaque buildup) by becoming activated, sticky, and forming a platelet plug. This is good if they are plugging a hole in a vessel, bad if they are plugging a coronary artery. That is why people with heart disease take an aspirin a day, to reduce the platelets activity and reduce the risk of platelet plugs in heart vessels that have plaque on their walls.
NItrogen bubbles being seen as a foreign substance activate platelets. This can cause "downstream" obstruction to blood flow to an extent much greater than the size of the bubble, since not there is now a plug also. Additionally, activated platelets and white blood cells release mediators, incl histamine and various other "evil humors" that cause swelling, leaking of fluid, inflammatory responses, etc. THis also causes local tissue edema, reducing blood flow and tissue perfusion.
All of this means that by slightly reducing the effect of platelets (just like folks with heart disease), we reduce the CHANCE and maybe extent of platelet activation in response to nitrogen bubbles, and thereby reduce the chance of DCS.
Other drugs that affect platelet function, like motrin, advil, aleve, etc will have similar effects. I don't think that "masking" DCS with an aspirin is really a clinical issue.

[WreckWench]

They say that if aspirin had been invented today that we couldn't afford the prescription for it as it is such a miracle drug. Starting on my next trip...I'm taking an aspirin everyday I dive! Thanks doc!!!

[Walter]

Other drugs that affect platelet function, like motrin, advil, aleve, etc will have similar effects.

Do any of these destroy vitamin C?

[WreckWench]

Other drugs that affect platelet function, like motrin, advil, aleve, etc will have similar effects.

Do any of these destroy vitamin C?

Walter if you take in sufficient vit C in your diet via food and/or bioavailable whole food supplements then you don't have to worry about the negative offset of the aspirin.

[sapphire]

So because I take a whole aspirin every day (for the rest of my life), I need to worry about my Vitamin C?? I eat lots of fruit and veggies...

[Walter]

Jennifer, you'll need a little more vitimin C than someone who doesn't take asprin.

My question is why take asprin to reduce the chances of DCS if one of the others work as well if they don't destroy vitamin C?

[Coo's Toe]

I was having a discussion about this subject a while back on another board. Taking asprin as a blood thinning agent seems to have consensus amongst the techie types. While they are loathe to actually reccommend the practice ( they are NOT medical professionals ), they will admit to taking asprin personally.

After talking to other divers and researching it a bit on my own, I would think it's a practice worth thinking about, especially on those week long dive vacations where you're diving a lot, or if pursuing deeper, more agressive, dives.

[DandyDon]

I started taking aspirin on dive trips because my knees are older than most, but then - I got to also thinking along these possible lines. Thanks for covering that...!!

[hnladue]

Don, I thought people took asprin to keep up.........never mind, that's viagara....

[DandyDon]

Don, I thought people took asprin to keep up.........never mind, that's viagara....

Hello...? Do I know you??

[No Pressure]

Coo, your techie buddies are right, and so are you on the multidive weeks. The more the chance of nitrogen buildup, the more risk of microbubbles, so more reason to take aspirin. Just be careful if anyone is taking any other "blood thinners", which include coumadin, and the herbal supplements that begin with "G" such as gingko biloba, ginsing, garlic and ginger, and herbal pain meds. All of these substances also affect blood clotting and with enough medications or combinations, you may get to a point of spontaneous bleeding. Good for calling in pelagics while diving, not so good for most everything else.
Walter, I will look up the various meds listed and see if there is a difference on VItamin C effect. I must admit that I don't know.

[WreckWench]

Don, I thought people took asprin to keep up.........never mind, that's viagara....

Hello...? Do I know you??

No but she's been listening to those of use who do!!! LOL!!!

[No Pressure]

Walter, after doing some googling, this is what I found. Aspirin can increase the body's excretion of VItamin C by up to 3 times normal. Vit C is not made in the body, and therefore must be taken orally. The recommended daily dose of Vit C is listed as 60 mg per day, but many would take up to 500 mg twice a day, and even more in the setting of a cold. Aspirin does not destroy Vitamin C, but decreases the body's availability of it. If you are taking a vitamin supplement with hundreds of miligrams of Vit C, then even taking aspirin, you should be OK. You won't get scurvy while on a dive boat. Remember to have an orange or lemon/ lime while WW is impressing you with her banana eating show.
I did not find info on the NSAID's (advil, aleve, motrin) having an affect on Vit C, but then, in my opinion, they are not as effective on platelets as aspirin, dose for dose. I will still be taking 325 mg of aspirin a day, and getting my Vitamin C from fruits, tomato juice, etc (screwdrivers and bloody mary's count)

[WreckWench]

I will still be taking 325 mg of aspirin a day, and getting my Vitamin C from fruits, tomato juice, etc (screwdrivers and bloody mary's count)

Whoops!! I guess Dandy Don won't be diving with you again! That is if you drink any of those after midnight that is!!! LOL!!!

[hnladue]

Don, I thought people took asprin to keep up.........never mind, that's viagara....

Hello...? Do I know you??

No but she's been listening to those of use who do!!! LOL!!!

So...if someone takes viagara before diving....does it effect their bouyancy??? What are the chances of getting 'it' 'bent'??? Will the nitogen bubbles react differently to 'that body part'??? Enquiring minds want to know.........!!!! hehe