Australian Medical Association

MJA media release - Swimming pool lifeguards and adults and children undergoing basic swimming training should be made aware of the potentially dangerous consequences of hyperventilating before breath-holding underwater, according to a report published in the Medical Journal of Australia.

Dr Kishore Kumar and Dr Karl Ng, of the Department of Neurology at Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW, report the cases of two medical students who experienced seizure-like activity while competing in a breath-hold dive competition. In both cases, the students hyperventilated before the dive.

“The seizure-like activity that occurred in the two university students was probably convulsions secondary to cerebral hypoxia [reduced supply of oxygen to the brain] induced by breath-holding,” Dr Kumar said.

The AMA Survey Report on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing presents the findings of the AMA's survey of the health and wellbeing of 914 junior doctors at the postgraduate year 2 level and above across Australia and New Zealand.

To read the full report click here AMA Survey Report on Junior Doctor Health and Wellbeing

AMA Survey of GP Visits to Residential Aged Care Facilities