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Decompression illness is treated by recompression, which allows the nitrogen in the blood to redissolve. In order to do this, the diver is placed in a decompression chamber, which is a steel tank that can be pressurized by pumping in air. The pressure is then slowly lowered until it is back to normal, allowing the nitrogen to get out of the body more safely, without making bubbles in the blood. During this treatment, at least for the beginning, the diver wears an oxygen mask and breathes 100% oxygen, which prevents more nitrogen from entering the body and makes it easier for the nitrogen already inside to get out. The treatment generally lasts five or six hours, during which time a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber while a doctor oversees the treatment from outside the chamber. After treatment, the diver stays in the hospital for the next 24 hours in case her condition suddenly gets worse. In some more severe cases of neurological decompression illness, there can be permanent damage to the nervous system, for which the symptoms can vary. If the illness is not treated, there may also be a permanent handicap in another system in the body, such as muscle weakness. As with the symptoms, the permanent effects may vary.
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Decompression Illness and Nitrogen Narcosis

{hyperbaric-chamber.jpg}
Decompression illness is treated by recompression, which allows the nitrogen in the blood to redissolve. In order to do this, the diver is placed in a decompression chamber, which is a steel tank that can be pressurized by pumping in air. The pressure is then slowly lowered until it is back to normal, allowing the nitrogen to get out of the body more safely, without making bubbles in the blood. During this treatment, at least for the beginning, the diver wears an oxygen mask and breathes 100% oxygen, which prevents more nitrogen from entering the body and makes it easier for the nitrogen already inside to get out. The treatment generally lasts five or six hours, during which time a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber while a doctor oversees the treatment from outside the chamber. After treatment, the diver stays in the hospital for the next 24 hours in case her condition suddenly gets worse. In some more severe cases of neurological decompression illness, there can be permanent damage to the nervous system, for which the symptoms can vary. If the illness is not treated, there may also be a permanent handicap in another system in the body, such as muscle weakness. As with the symptoms, the permanent effects may vary.
{Decompression_chamber.jpg}
{narcosis.jpg}
Decompression Illness and Nitrogen Narcosis

{hyperbaric-chamber.jpg}
Decompression illness is treated by recompression, which allows the nitrogen in the blood to redissolve. In order to do this, the diver is placed in a decompression chamber, which is a steel tank that can be pressurized by pumping in air. The pressure is then slowly lowered until it is back to normal, allowing the nitrogen to get out of the body more safely, without making bubbles in the blood. During this treatment, at least for the beginning, the diver wears an oxygen mask and breathes 100% oxygen, which prevents more nitrogen from entering the body and makes it easier for the nitrogen already inside to get out. The treatment generally lasts five or six hours, during which time a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber while a doctor oversees the treatment from outside the chamber. After treatment, the diver stays in the hospital for the next 24 hours in case her condition suddenly gets worse. In some more severe cases of neurological decompression illness, there can be permanent damage to the nervous system, for which the symptoms can vary. If the illness is not treated, there may also be a permanent handicap in another system in the body, such as muscle weakness. As with the symptoms, the permanent effects may vary.
{Decompression_chamber.jpg}
{narcosis.jpg}
Decompression Illness and Nitrogen Narcosis

Decompression illness is treated by recompression, which allows the nitrogen in the blood to redissolve. In order to do this, the diver is placed in a decompression chamber, which is a steel tank that can be pressurized by pumping in air. The pressure is then slowly lowered until it is back to normal, allowing the nitrogen to get out of the body more safely, without making bubbles in the blood. During this treatment, at least for the beginning, the diver wears an oxygen mask and breathes 100% oxygen, which prevents more nitrogen from entering the body and makes it easier for the nitrogen already inside to get out. The treatment generally lasts five or six hours, during which time a specially trained helper stays with the diver in the chamber while a doctor oversees the treatment from outside the chamber. After treatment, the diver stays in the hospital for the next 24 hours in case her condition suddenly gets worse. In some more severe cases of neurological decompression illness, there can be permanent damage to the nervous system, for which the symptoms can vary. If the illness is not treated, there may also be a permanent handicap in another system in the body, such as muscle weakness. As with the symptoms, the permanent effects may vary.
{Decompression_chamber.jpg}
Decompression Illness and Nitrogen Narcosis
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Decompression Illness and Nitrogen Narcosis
Nitrogen narcosis is a mental effect of having too much nitrogen dissolved in the body, which happens while diving because the outside pressure is increased. It produces a state similar to alcohol intoxication, described as a temporary decline in senses or movement, or numbness. It is believed that the effect is caused by nitrogen dissolving into nerve membranes and causing problems with the signal transmissions. Nitrogen narcosis occurs during dives, as opposed to decompression illness, which happens after dives. They also have slightly different causes, as nitrogen narcosis is what happens when too much nitrogen gets into the blood and tissues, while decompression illness happens when that nitrogen tries to get out.

Symptoms
{cartoon1.gif} The unusual fatigue and the dizziness that Julie experienced are a couple of the usual symptoms of decompression illness. However, Julie apparently did not have the most common symptom associated with it, which is joint pain or difficulty in movement. She also did not have a rash, which is another common symptom. The symptoms are all caused by the bubbles that form in the blood and various tissues when the nitrogen can’t stay dissolved anymore. The joint pain is assumed to be caused by bubbles forming in or near the joints, and the rash is from the bubbles that form near the skin. Similarly, the bubbles may cause problems in the nervous system, respiratory system, and so on. Depending on where exactly most of the bubbles form, the condition may or may not be life-threatening. Julie appears to have had problems mostly in her nervous system, as she was experiencing dizziness and her right side had decreased sensitivity to stimuli. Since her balance was off, the bubbles may also have gotten into her inner ear.
the consequences.
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What if... {cartoon-airplane.jpg} Ifif...If a diver

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