Posted by Ken Kurtis on October 02, 2002 at 11:31:45:
In Reply to: Re: for what it's worth posted by Kendall Raine on October 02, 2002 at 08:13:36:
Seems to me, especially when this is discussed in a recreational diving sense, the terms "masking symptoms" and "delaying the onset of symptoms" are the same thing.
I think the "masking" thing got started with the idea (seen in some people that we treat while waiting for a helicopter) that because the O2 can make you feel better and may even cause the symnptoms to "go away", and then they return later once off of O2, that the O2 "masks" the symptoms.
But "delaying the onset of symnptoms" is probably a much more clinically correct term to use.
Ken Kurtis
NAUI Instr. #5936
Co-owner, Reef Seekers Dive Co.
Beverly Hills, CA