decompression sickness

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. aeroembolism.

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decompression sickness British  

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

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decompression sickness Scientific  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of decompression sickness

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

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.

From BBC • Aug. 20, 2024

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

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2023

Another neglected hazard is decompression sickness among divers forced to make repeated deep dives, a common problem in harvesting lobster, sea cucumbers and conches, the report said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 2, 2022

Isaacman said the first mission would also conduct a study before and after the spacewalk to test how people cope with decompression sickness and why it varies.

From Washington Post • Feb. 14, 2022

Others suggest that COVID-19 mimics physiology seen at high altitudes, or pulmonary decompression sickness, when a diver ascends to the surface too rapidly.

From Scientific American • Apr. 3, 2020