DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS Meaning and
Definition
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Decompression sickness, also known as "the bends" or Caisson disease, is a medical condition that occurs when a person experiences rapid or inadequate decompression during ascent from a deep diving or aviation activity. It is caused by the formation of nitrogen bubbles in body tissues and bloodstream due to the decrease in ambient pressure. This condition primarily affects scuba divers, astronauts, aviators, and hyperbaric chamber workers, as they are exposed to higher atmospheric pressure during their activities.
Symptoms of decompression sickness often develop within a few hours after surfacing from a dive or flight and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include joint and muscle pain (typically in the shoulders, elbows, and knees), fatigue, numbness or tingling, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and in severe cases, neurological impairment or even paralysis. Prompt medical treatment is crucial to prevent potential long-term complications.
Treatment for decompression sickness involves breathing pure oxygen, repressurization in a hyperbaric chamber, and close monitoring of the individual's vital signs. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps remove excess nitrogen from tissues and promotes the elimination of bubbles, reducing symptoms and minimizing further damage.
Preventive measures to avoid decompression sickness include adhering to appropriate decompression protocols during diving or aviation activities, making safety stops during ascents, limiting dive or flight times, and utilizing decompression tables or dive computers to calculate safe ascent rates. Following these guidelines can significantly reduce the risk of decompression sickness and ensure the safety and well-being of individuals involved in pressurized environments.
Common Misspellings for DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS
- secompression sickness
- xecompression sickness
- cecompression sickness
- fecompression sickness
- recompression sickness
- eecompression sickness
- dwcompression sickness
- dscompression sickness
- ddcompression sickness
- drcompression sickness
- d4compression sickness
- d3compression sickness
- dexompression sickness
- devompression sickness
- defompression sickness
- dedompression sickness
- decimpression sickness
- deckmpression sickness
- declmpression sickness
Etymology of DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS
The word "decompression" in "decompression sickness" originates from the Latin prefix "de-" meaning "reverse" or "remove", and the word "compression", which refers to the act of putting pressure on something. Simultaneously, the term "sickness" pertains to the state of being ill or diseased.
"Decompression sickness" is a condition that primarily affects divers and aviators. It was first described in the early 1900s and is caused by the rapid reduction of pressure during ascent after exposure to increased pressure at depth. This condition is also known as "the bends" or "Caisson disease" when experienced by divers or "the bends" or "aerobullosis" when encountered by aviators.
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