Decompression Sickness

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Decompression sickness, also known a "the bends" is a painful and sometimes life-threatening condition that is caused by a sudden drop in environmental pressure. If the pressure around the body drops rapidly - as can happen if you surface too quickly while scuba diving or climb too rapidly in an unpressurized aircraft - nitrogen and other gases that had been dissolved in the blood collect in bubbles in the blood vessel, blocking then and depriving the body of essential blood nutrients.

Symptoms can include mild to severe joint pain, especially in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees; chest pain; shortness of breath; a burning sensation behind the breastbone; difficulty breathing; coughing; weakness; itching; rash; fatigue; numbness and tingling and, possibly, paralysis in an arm or leg; and even loss of consciousness, an inability to speak, and difficulty urinating. Symptoms can begin anytime y to twenty-four hours after a serious change in pressure, and may gradually continue t get worse after that.

The risk of developing decompression sickness is greatest among scuba divers who perform more than one dive in a day, those who fly certain high-performance aircraft, and people who work in compressed-air environments, such as tunnel workers. The risk is increased by a medical history of lung conditions such as asthma, as well as by obesity, heart disease, chronic sinusitis, and alcoholism. Women appear to be somewhat more prone to developing this disorder than are men.

Preventive measures for decompression sickness
To become a diver, you must receive training from a licensed instructor. Always remember and practice proper technique, especially when ascending. Always dive with a buddy so that, should one of you need it, a helper will be available. You should also know the location of the nearest appropriate treatment center in any area where you go diving. The National Diver Assistance Network (telephone 919-684-8111) may be able to assist you in this.

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