Ask DAN
DAN medical specialists and researchers answer your dive medicine questions
IMMATURE BLOOD CELLS Q: My doctor said that my blood cells (white, red and platelets) are immature, and at times I have very high counts, although they are currently within the normal range. Will this condition impact my body’s ability to get oxygen to my cells and eliminate nitrogen? Will I have a higher risk of DCS or bubbles forming in my blood? A: The condition you are referencing can be a type of myelodysplasia. The body’s long bones, including the sternum, humerus and femur, produce new blood cells. A disruption in the bone marrow can release immature blood cells into the body. The World Health Organisation classifies myelodysplasias into subtypes based on the types of cells involved. If two or three cell types are abnormal, it is a multilineage dysplasia. In this condition, blood cells will die in the bloodstream soon after being released or while still in the bone marrow. Over time, there will be more immature cells than healthy ones. Complications can include opportunistic infections, fatigue and abnormal or uncontrolled bleeding. Platelets are components within our blood responsible for beginning clotting. Decreased platelets will inhibit clotting, which may lead to uncontrolled bleeding. If you have bleeding from blunt or penetrating trauma, barotrauma from difficulty equalising, or DCS, you may have uncontrolled bleeding that could go undetected for some time. Diving exposes you to bacteria and other micro-organisms in the water. White blood cells are the body’s natural defence mechanism against these contaminants. Immature or inadequate white blood cells may lead to opportunistic infection or, if your immune system is compromised, a serious illness. Red blood cells carry oxygen and other nutrients throughout the body. Immature red blood cells are unable to meet the body’s oxygen demands while diving. This lack of oxygen may lead to fatigue, the possibility of passing out and potentially drowning. Diving often takes place in a remote location, and access to immediate or definitive health care may be difficult. When planning a dive trip, ask the dive operator or resort about access to health care and their emergency action plan for caring for an ill or injured diver. Some locations may have more limited medical care than others, especially if an air evacuation is involved. DANAP.org
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