injuries poisoning
Decompression Sickness
Risk factors for decompression sickness
Decompression sickness occurs in about 2 to 4/10,000 dives among recreational divers. The incidence is higher among commercial divers, who are exposed to deeper depths and longer dive times. Risk factors include all of the following: Cold-temperature dives Dehydration Exercise after diving Fatigue Flying after diving Obesity Older age Prolonged or deep dives Rapid ascents Right-to-left cardiac shunts Because excess nitrogen remains dissolved in body tissues for at least 12 hours after each dive, repeated dives within 1 day are more likely to cause decompression sickness. Decompression sickness can also develop if pressure decreases below atmospheric pressure (eg, by exposure to altitude). 