Does flying at high altitude worsen decompression sickness?

Does flying at high altitude worsen decompression sickness?

Individuals flying a military or private flight may be exposed to high-altitude situations predisposing them to a decompression illness. Approximately 30% of the time flying between 18,000 ft and 30,000 ft results in symptoms with a much higher percentage when flying at altitudes between 30,000 ft to 45,000 feet.

At which altitude do over 98% of reported decompression incidents occur?

A US Air Force study reports that there are few occurrences between 5,500 m (18,000 ft) and 7,500 m (24,600 ft) and 87% of incidents occurred at or above 7,500 m (24,600 ft). High altitude parachutists may reduce the risk of altitude DCS if they flush nitrogen from the body by pre-breathing pure oxygen.

What is altitude induced decompression sickness?

Decompression sickness (DCS) describes a condition characterized by a variety of symptoms resulting from exposure to low barometric pressures that cause inert gases (mainly nitrogen), normally dissolved in body fluids and tissues, to come out of physical solution and form bubbles.

What is altitude DCS?

High Altitude, High Risk. Decompression sickness (DCS) is a condition derived from exposure to low barometric pressures, creating bubbles of inert gases (usually nitrogen) throughout the body. Overall, joint pain accounts for 60 to 70% of all altitude DCS cases.

What are the symptoms of DCS?

Symptoms

• Joint pain.
• Dizziness.
• Headache.
• Difficulty thinking clearly.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Weakness in arms or legs.
• A skin rash.

How do you test for decompression sickness?

Diagnosis. Doctors recognize decompression sickness by the nature of the symptoms and their onset in relation to diving. Tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sometimes show brain or spinal cord abnormalities but are not reliable.

What does the bends feel like?

The most common signs and symptoms of the bends include joint pains, fatigue, low back pain, paralysis or numbness of the legs, and weakness or numbness in the arms. Other associated signs and symptoms can include dizziness, confusion, vomiting, ringing in the ears, head or neck pain, and loss of consciousness.

What happens if decompression sickness goes untreated?

Untreated bends cause damage! Failure to treat promptly and appropriately may lead to permanent impairment.

Can the bends go away on its own?

In some cases, symptoms may remain mild or even go away by themselves. Often, however, they strengthen in severity until you must seek medical attention, and they may have longer-term repercussions.

Will mild decompression sickness go away?

While very minor symptoms of DCS may go away with just rest and over the counter pain medications, it is thought that treatment with recompression and oxygen is ideal to prevent any possible long term effects from the injury.

How do you cure the bends?

The Bends Medical Treatment

1. The diver will need high-flow oxygen and IV fluids.
2. The diver will likely need to go to a hyperbaric chamber for recompression.
3. Often the person is admitted to the hospital to monitor medical condition and to ensure that there is no recurrence of symptoms.

What depth does the bends occur?

The shallowest depth for a single dive producing bends symptoms was ten feet (three meters), with the bottom time unknown. However, most of the divers made several shallow dives and sometimes multiple ascents.

How do you prevent bends?

How to Avoid the Bends From Scuba Diving

1. Keep properly hydrated. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of DCS.
2. Avoid Alcohol. It’s common sense not to dive under the influence.
3. Stay Fit.
4. Have a Dive Plan.
5. Always Ascend Slowly.
6. Do Not Fly After Diving.
7. Keep a Smooth Dive Profile.

Why do they call it the bends?

Decompression sickness (DCS), known as ‘the bends’ because of the associated joint pain, is a potentially deadly condition caused by bubbles of nitrogen gas forming in the blood and tissues. It’s most common among divers using scuba tanks, but can affect free-divers and people at high altitude.

What happens when a diver gets the bends?

Decompression sickness: Often called “the bends,” decompression sickness happens when a scuba diver ascends too quickly. But if a diver rises too quickly, the nitrogen forms bubbles in the body. This can cause tissue and nerve damage. In extreme cases, it can cause paralysis or death if the bubbles are in the brain.

Why would someone with the bends have a difficult time breathing?

The major component of air that causes decompression maladies is nitrogen. The oxygen breathed is used up by the cells of the body and the waste product carbon dioxide is continuously exhaled. The term bends is derived from this affliction, as the affected person commonly is unable to straighten joints.

How do divers avoid the bends?

Ascend no faster than 30 feet per minute. Always perform a safety stop at 15 feet for three to five minutes. Remember, the ascent from safety stop to the boat is the most critical distance of your ascent, so go slow. Keep warm during and between dives.

Can you avoid decompression sickness?

How to Prevent Decompression Sickness? As serious as decompression sickness is, it can be prevented if you dive conservatively, avoid a seesaw dive pattern, dive well within your physical limits and make sure to take a safety stop at 5 meters for the required amount of time (usually three minutes).

How long can you fly after diving?

For repetitive dives, or multiple days of diving a minimum preflight surface interval of at least 18 hours is recommended. DAN (Divers Alert Network) recommends 24 hours for repetitive dives, The US Air Force recommends 24 hours after any dive, while the US Navy tables recommend only 2 hours before flying to altitude.”