What is the bends?
The bends is a condition that can occur when a person decompresses too quickly. It is also called decompression sickness orDCS. The bends can cause a person to feel pain in their joints, have trouble breathing, and feel dizzy. The bends can be serious and even life-threatening if not treated quickly.
What causes the bends?
The bends, also called decompression sickness (DCS), is a condition caused by bubbles of gas that form in your body during a rapid decrease in air pressure. The most common place for these bubbles to form is in your joints.
The bends can occur when you ascend too quickly from a deep dive. As you rise, the surrounding water pressure decreases, and nitrogen gas that was dissolved in your blood starts to form bubbles. These bubbles can block blood flow and cause tissue damage.
The bends is a serious condition that can be deadly if not treated immediately. If you think you or someone else may have the bends, it’s important to seek medical help right away.
What are the symptoms of the bends?
The signs and symptoms of the bends vary depending on how fast and how deep a person ascends. For example, shallow, slow ascents generally cause only joint pain, whereas rapid ascents from depths greater than 50 feet (15 meters) may cause more-serious neurological problems, such as paralysis.
In general, the signs and symptoms of the bends include:
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Numbness or tingling in extremities
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Paralysis
How is the bends treated?
The bends, also known as decompression sickness, is a condition that can occur when a scuba diver ascends too quickly from the depths of the ocean. The sudden change in pressure can cause nitrogen to be released from the blood and tissues, forming bubbles that can block blood flow or damage organs. If not treated quickly, the bends can be fatal. So, how is it treated?
What is the treatment for the bends?
The main treatment for the bends is to bring the person suffering from it to a place with less pressure, such as up to the surface of the water or in a decompression chamber. In more severe cases, oxygen may also be given. If the person has been under water for a long time, they may need to be on a ventilator.
What are the risks of the bends?
There are a number of risks associated with the bends, and these range from mild to life-threatening. The most common symptom is pain, which can be anything from a dull ache to severe cramping. This is often accompanied by joint stiffness, skin rashes, and/or swelling. In more severe cases, paralysis and/or paralysis of the respiratory system may occur. If left untreated, the bends can be fatal.
How can the bends be prevented?
The bends, also known as decompression sickness, is a condition caused by coming up to the surface too quickly after diving. When a person ascends too quickly, the nitrogen in their blood forms bubbles, which can cause pain and other symptoms. The bends can be prevented by ascending slowly and allowing the body to adjust to the changing pressure.
What are the prevention methods for the bends?
“The bends” is the common name for decompression sickness (DCS), a condition that results when dissolved nitrogen in the blood forms bubbles. It is also referred to as caisson disease, compressed air illness (CAI), the bends, or Nitrogen Narcosis.
Symptoms of DCS usually occur during or after a rapid decrease in atmospheric pressure, such as when ascending too quickly from a deep dive in SCUBA gear. The bubbles cause blockages in small blood vessels, which can lead to tissue damage and organ failure. In severe cases, DCS can be fatal.
There are several methods of preventing DCS:
- Using a dive table or dive computer to plan dives carefully and avoid ascending too quickly
- stopping at decompression stops during ascent
- avoiding alcohol or smoking prior to diving, as these can increase the risk of DCS
- wearing proper diving gear and maintaining it properly
- taking a safety stop at 5 to 15 feet (1.5 to 4.5 meters) for 3 to 5 minutes at the end of every dive to allow excess nitrogen to escape from the body