nitrogen narcosis

American  

noun

Pathology.

1. a semistupor, lightheadedness, or euphoria experienced by deep-sea divers when nitrogen from air enters the blood at higher than atmospheric pressure.

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Etymology

Origin of nitrogen narcosis

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nitrogen narcosis

Part of the reason lies in the challenge, another in how deep dives change the chemistry in the brain, creating nitrogen narcosis or a “rapture of the deep” that freedivers describe in lyrical terms.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 13, 2020

From 40 metres to 60 metres you get nitrogen narcosis and from 80 metres and deeper you get oxygen poisoning.

From The Guardian ● Nov. 9, 2019

Using a helium-oxygen mixture avoids the disoriented mental state known as nitrogen narcosis, the so-called rapture of the deep.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Even experts risk equipment failures, insufficient decompression, and the dangerous confusion induced by nitrogen narcosis.

From National Geographic ● Jul. 11, 2016

"I personally am quite receptive to nitrogen narcosis," says Cousteau.

From Time Magazine Archive