Understanding Decompression Sickness – Causes, Types and Symptoms

It is known as "the bends" and caisson disease, Decompression Sickness (DCS) is an illness that can affect divers and even miners and anyone who is exposed to rapid pressure decreasing within the body. DCS can be defined as a build up of nitrogen bubbles within the body, as we descend down to greater depths the pressure around our bodies increase, with this increase the nitrogen content absorbed in our bodies is too. At this point it is not harmful to us as we can absorb nitrogen until it gets saturated.

The problem only arises when our bodies release the nitrogen, to be able to release the nitrogen from our bodies slowly we need to rise to the surface at a slow controlled ascent and if required do decompression stops. By doing this the nitrogen is allowed to slowly escape via gases within the blood and release though the lungs, this process is called "off gassing".

If the diver ascends to quick the bubbles release to quick and build up in the blood stream and our bodies are unable to cope. This is where Decompression sickness occurs. There are several different types of Decompression Sickness:

Type I Decompression Sickness
This form of DCS is the least serious and will involve pain to the body and normally not life threatening. Symptoms related to type 1 can be warning signs of more serious problems:

• Cutaneous Decompression Sickness
This is when the nitrogen bubbles come out of solution in skin capillaries. Typically a red rash will appear most commonly in the shoulders and chest.
• Joint and Limb Pain Decompression Sickness
As the name says it occurs in the joint of the limbs and is felt as an aching pain. Its not totally known why it occurs in the limbs but the theory is the bubbles affect the bone marrow, tendons and joints.

Type II Decompression Sickness
Type II Decompression Sickness is more serious than type 1 and can be immediately life-threatening. The main effect of type 2 DCS is on the nervous system.

• Neurological Decompression Sickness
When nitrogen bubbles affect the nervous system they can cause problems throughout the body. This type of DCS is shown as a number of signs such as tingling, numbness, respiratory problems, and unconsciousness. Symptoms can spread quickly and if left untreated can lead to paralysis or even death.
• Pulmonary Decompression Sickness
This is a rare form of Decompression Sickness that occurs when bubbles form in lung capillaries. Generally the bubbles will dissolve naturally through the lungs ut sometimes it can be possible to obstruct blood flow to the lungs which can lead to serious and life-threatening respiratory and heart problems.
• Cerebral Decompression Sickness
The bubbles can make there way towards the arterial blood stream which will move them to the brain and to cause an arterial gas embolism, this is life threatening and extremely dangerous and can be identified by symptoms such as blurred vision, headaches, confusion, and unconsciousness.

Other Forms of Decompression Sickness

One common sign of DCS is extreme tiredness and can at times be the only sign. Also DCS can occur in the inner ear is formed by bubbles in the cochlea perilymph and can result in hearing loss, dizziness, ringing of the ears, and vertigo.

Symptoms

As you can see DCS can occur in several different ways and different symptoms, but the general most common symptoms are:

• Unconsciousness
• Ringing of the Ears
• Blurred Vision
• Joint and Limb Pain
• Tingling
• Vertigo
• Extreme Fatigue
• Red Rash on Skin
• Respiratory Problems
• Heart Problems
• Dizziness
• Numbness
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Stomach Sickness

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