decompression sickness

noun

: a sometimes fatal condition that is caused by the release of gas bubbles typically of nitrogen as it leaves its dissolved form throughout the body upon a rapid decrease in barometric pressure (such as that experienced by the rapid ascent of a diver from a deep dive or the rapid ascent of a pilot to high altitudes in a poorly pressurized aircraft) and that is marked chiefly by joint pain which may be accompanied in mild forms by fatigue and itching or burning of the skin and in more severe forms by shortness of breath, chest pain, paralysis, and confusion

called also bends, caisson disease

Examples of decompression sickness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For comparison, decompression sickness is often treated at a pressure equivalent to 60 fsw (foot sea water), or 2.8 ATA. Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 8 Apr. 2023 Beyond the risks of decompression sickness, living under the sea alters the partial pressure of oxygen in the human body. Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2023 For example, scuba divers who do not wait at least 24 hours before flying can come down with the bends, or decompression sickness. Andrea Sachs, Anchorage Daily News, 14 May 2023 This is commonly called decompression sickness, or the bends. WIRED, 25 Nov. 2022 Know Your Terms: Colloquially known as the Bends, decompression sickness occurs when a diver ascends to the surface too quickly. Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 8 Apr. 2023 He was later flown to Seattle for hyberbaric oxygen therapy, a treatment for decompression sickness, which is a potential risk of scuba diving. Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 3 Nov. 2020 In the 1940s, the U.S. military developed hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat deep-sea divers suffering from decompression sickness, aka the bends. Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011 In addition, the therapy shrinks gas bubbles, soothing decompression sickness, and treats carbon monoxide poisoning by removing CO from the bloodstream. Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 7 June 2011

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decompression sickness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of decompression sickness was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near decompression sickness

Cite this Entry

“Decompression sickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decompression%20sickness. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decompression sickness

noun

Medical Definition

decompression sickness

noun
variants also decompression illness or decompression syndrome
: a sometimes fatal condition that is caused by the release of gas bubbles typically of nitrogen as it leaves its dissolved form throughout the body upon a rapid decrease in barometric pressure (such as that experienced by the rapid ascent of a diver from a deep dive or the rapid ascent of a pilot to high altitudes in a poorly pressurized aircraft)

Note: Decompression sickness is marked chiefly by joint pain and is often accompanied in mild forms by fatigue and itching or burning of the skin frequently with discoloration. More serious forms may manifest with shortness of breath, chest pain, numbness, muscle weakness or paralysis, visual disturbances, incontinence, confusion, and hypovolemic shock. Individuals affected with decompression sickness are typically treated in a hyperbaric chamber.

called also bends, caisson disease

see aeroembolism, choke entry 2 sense 2

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