Also known as 'The Bends'.
The name given to a variety of symptoms suffered by a person exposed to a reduction in the pressure surrounding their body. This may occur when a diver ascends too quickly from depth, when the cabin pressurisation system of an aircraft fails, or when a diver flies in an aircraft too soon after diving.
The condition is caused by inert gases (mainly nitrogen) that are normally dissolved in body fluids and tissues, to come out of physical solution and form gaseous bubbles. This may lead to joint pain, mental confusion, headaches, chest pain, numbness, twitching, shortness of breath and itching.
