Dr. Rhys Dapar, M.D

There are several career pathways to Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine such as Emergency Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Family Practice. Ideally, you would go through fellowship training in Hyperbaric Medicine after you finish residency. There are available courses for physicians in Undersea Diving Medicine. I would recommend that you visit the website for Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society: UHMS.ORG

Professional diving is well recognized for its potential for accident and injury. Professional divers and their employers carry very expensive insurance plans. As part of their dive planning, professional divers should have a medical, rescue, and evacuation plan in place for their operations. Larger commercial diving operations will have a diving medical official and access to a hyperbaric chamber on site.

One sided weakness is concerning for a possible stroke and you should go directly to an Emergency Department as soon as possible.

Strep throat is usually not an emergency medical condition and may be managed easily in your doctor's office or Urgent Care Clinic. Throat infections may be serious, and in need of emergency care, if there are concerns for airway obstruction, inability to handle secretions (drooling), or ill appearance suggesting an overwhelming infection.

The pituitary gland is responsible for the production and regulation of several important hormones. The effect on the body depends upon the nature of the pituitary gland problem. The next step is follow up with an Endocrine Specialist.

First aid treatment for heart attack is call 911 or go immediately to your closest emergency department. EMS personnel may administer aspirin and nitroglycerin in appropriate conditions, but most importantly transport you to a cardiac receiving hospital.

Most effective emergency treatment for heart attack is re-opening of the clogged coronary artery of your heart. The most effective way of accomplishing this is by a cardiac catheterization lab procedure performed by a Cardiologist called "percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty" or PTCA. Some hospitals do not have cardiac catheterization facilities or specialists and may treat heart attacks with clot-dissolving medications also known as thrombolytic agents. Some of the most commonly used thrombolytic agents are tissue plasminogen activators: t-PA, tenecteplase, retevase, or alteplase.

Diving injuries, marine envenomations, marine environmental injuries, near drowning injuries, and marine life toxins are part of an Emergency Medicine Physician's training.

In general, an urgent care clinic can manage a simple urinary tract infection. However, it is uncommon for a teenaged male to have a UTI and may benefit from further evaluation in an emergency department.