Scuba divers can face a variety of medical challenges and are at risk of injuries that are typically caused by the change in pressure. Therefore, Matthew Kelly, M.D., co-medical director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine program, says it is important to assess potential risks before scuba diving and to know the symptoms of diving injuries in order to be able to seek care promptly when needed.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO) is a medical treatment administered by delivering 100 percent oxygen at pressures greater than atmospheric (sea level) pressure to a patient inside an enclosed chamber environment. The pressure is typically two to three times greater than normal atmospheric pressure, causing the blood, tissue and muscles to carry larger amounts of oxygen […]