decompression sickness

noun

Pathology.

1. aeroembolism.

decompression sickness

noun

1. Nontechnical name: the bends. Also called: caisson disease.  aeroembolism. a disorder characterized by severe pain in muscles and joints, cramp, and difficulty in breathing, caused by a sudden and sustained decrease in air pressure, resulting in the deposition of nitrogen bubbles in the tissues

decompression sickness

1. A common disorder that affects deep-sea divers following a sudden drop in the surrounding pressure, as when ascending rapidly from a dive. When divers are underwater, the amounts of gases such as O ₂, CO ₂, and N ₂ in their blood increase due to the increased pressure. As they ascend to the surface and the pressure decreases, the gases in their blood expand. The extra oxygen is absorbed by the body; the extra CO ₂ is excreted efficiently; but nitrogen, which the body does not use, forms bubbles in the blood and tissues. These bubbles cause severe pains in the joints and chest, skin irritation, cramps, and possibly paralysis. Decompression sickness can be avoided by ascending slowly to the surface, or by spending time in a decompression chamber.

Word History and Origins

Origin of decompression sickness¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

The four crew members spent two days “pre-breathing” to prevent becoming seriously ill from decompression sickness, known as getting “the bends”, as the pressure changed.

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If a diver returns to the surface too quickly, the nitrogen bubbles don't have time to dissipate - leading to a dangerous condition known as decompression sickness, also known as the bends.

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The incident, which occurred at 23:28 BST, led some people to believe that a real astronaut was suffering from decompression sickness in space.

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Mr. Small died of decompression sickness before he could be transported to a hospital.

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Whales have been observed suffering from decompression sickness, behavioural changes and strandings after being exposed to noise pollution from ships, oil and gas surveying and construction.

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