Freediving blackout
Freediving blackout
Freediving blackout, also known as apnea blackout or spearfishing blackout, is a loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive, when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other immediately obvious medical condition that might have caused it.
Pronunciation
- Free-diving blackout: /ˈfriːˌdaɪvɪŋ ˈblækˌaʊt/
Etymology
The term "freediving blackout" is derived from "free" (without the use of breathing apparatus) and "diving" (the sport or activity of swimming or exploring under water), and "blackout" (a temporary loss of consciousness).
Causes
Freediving blackout can be caused by hypoxia, a state in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. This can occur as a result of ascending from a deep dive, where the partial pressure of oxygen in the lungs can fall below the level necessary to maintain consciousness.
Related Terms
- Shallow water blackout: A loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold dive in shallow water.
- Deep water blackout: A loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia during ascent from a deep freedive.
- Hyperventilation: A condition in which you start to breathe very fast, which may precede a freediving blackout.
- Hypoxia: A condition in which the body or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level.
Prevention
Prevention of freediving blackout includes proper training, avoiding hyperventilation before diving, and always diving with a buddy who is aware of the risks and prepared to manage a blackout.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Freediving blackout
- Wikipedia's article - Freediving blackout
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