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Diving - decompression sicknessDecompression sickness or the "bends" as divers call it is the number one hazard posing a threat to divers, it is a condition which affects the diver on ascent and occurs when the person is exposed to a reduction in the pressure surrounding their body.What is the cause of decompression sickness and why does it happen? Nitrogen is an inert gas which is stored throughout the human body, when the body is subjected to a decrease in pressure such as on a scuba diving ascent the nitrogen that is stored in the body comes out of solution. If the nitrogen is forced to come out too quickly during the ascent then bubbles will from in parts of the body which shows as symptoms of itching, a rash, bloody froth at the mouth, coughing, muscle pain and contractions and in extreme cases paralysis and even death. Air embolism is also another condition that has very similar symptoms to decompression sickness and the two are usually grouped together under the name decompression illness. The signs and symptoms of decompression sickness The bubbles that the pressure can cause can happen anywhere in the body but more commonly they affect the shoulders, knees, elbows and ankles. The most common signs and symptoms are: * Localised deep pain which can range from a mild niggling pain to excruciating pain. * Active and passive movement of the affected joints cause aggravation to the painful areas. * The pain might be relieved by movement of the area to a more comfortable position. * Confusion or memory loss. * Headache or a feeling of pressure. * Double vision, tunnel vision or blurry vision. * Extreme fatigue. * A burning, tingling or stinging sensation felt around the lower chest and back. * Abdominal pain or pain felt in the chest. * Muscle weakness or twitching. * Pain on breathing. * Shortness of breath. * A sensation of insects crawling on the skin. * Swelling of the skin. Treatment for decompression sickness Recompression is the only effective treatment for the sickness and this should be given as soon as possible when the diver is recovered from the water with a recompression chamber normally being used for the treatment. Oxygen first aid treatment should be given until the diver can be transferred to a recompression chamber. To reduce the risk of decompression sickness the diver should where possible avoid long and deep dives and always ascend at a very slow rate. There is an increases risk of decompression sickness if you dive again with less than a 16 hour period in-between dives or if the dive requires decompression stops. |
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