Decompression Sickness - Symptoms



Nitrogen bubbles can affect any of the body's tissues, including nerves, bone, blood, and muscles. For that reason, DCS can cause a wide variety of symptoms. These symptoms usually appear almost as soon as the diver surfaces. In 80 percent of all cases, they do so within eight hours of the dive.

The most common symptom of DCS is pain, often referred to by the term "bends." This pain can range from mild to severe. It usually affects the joints, but can occur anywhere. Skin problems, such as itching and rashes, are other symptoms. In more serious cases, DCS can result in paralysis, brain damage, heart attacks, and death.

A man suffering from decompression sickness is rushed to the hospital by police and emergency medical technicians. (Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos)
A man suffering from decompression sickness is rushed to the hospital by police and emergency medical technicians. (Reproduced by permission of
AP/Wide World Photos
)

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