Decompression Sickness

Decompression weakness, also known as decompression sickness, is a pathological condition caused by the formation of gas bubbles in body tissues and fluids as a result of a rapid decrease in external pressure. This can happen, for example, when a diver quickly ascends or during a sharp rise to altitude in an unpressurized aircraft.

When diving under water or rising into the air, the ambient pressure drops, which leads to the release of dissolved gases from the blood and tissues. If the ascent or climb occurs too quickly, gas bubbles can lead to blockage of blood vessels, impaired blood flow and tissue damage.

Symptoms of decompression weakness include joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Severe cases can lead to paralysis and death.

For prevention, gradual ascent with stops for decompression, as well as special decompression chambers, are used. When symptoms appear, urgent reoxygenation and hyperbaric oxygenation in a pressure chamber are necessary.

Decompression sickness (Decompression sickness or DCS) is a term used to describe symptoms that occur after a rapid release of pressure on a submersible or other deep artificial environment. The term is most often used in the context of diving and other forms of diving to depths greater than 40 m. Described as a "rapid increase in blood volume" due to a rapid decrease in pressure, decompression problems can range from mild symptoms such as dizziness and hearing loss to severe manifestations such as cerebral hypoxia, multiple seizures and even death.

To prevent weakness from decompression, divers use a diving technique