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We were able to find several definitions of decompression illness, or the bends, in the Diving Medicine sub-category of our general Scuba category. A comprehensive reference site called Diving Medicine Online was especially helpful. The bends were first recorded in 1841, when early deep-sea divers began experiencing strange symptoms when resurfacing: blotchy rashes, coughing spasms, dizziness, unconsciousness, and a bizarre inability to bend joints (hence, the phrase the bends). Slower ascents were
found to help the problem, but the cause of these symptoms wasn't understood until much later. Decompression sickness is a very serious, potentially lethal condition. When people move from a high-pressure environment to one of low pressure, bubbles can form in their bloodstream as gases in pressurized, liquid form quickly revert to their natural state. This, as anyone familiar with intravenous injections can tell you, is a very bad thing. Divers breath pressurized air, which is mostly nitrogen. In high pressure environments (i.e., under the ocean), nitrogen is absorbed by the body's fatty tissues rather than being expelled through breathing. This is generally fine, but if a diver's ascent is too quick and the pressure drops rapidly, the liquid nitrogen turns into bubbles. Sixty
percent of your nervous system is composed of fatty tissue. When the nitrogen stored there turns into bubbles, it wreaks havoc. Nitrogen is also stored in the joints (the bends) and directly under the skin (blotchy rash). Want to learn more about the bends? Take a scuba class -- just make sure to take your time surfacing.
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