List of signs and symptoms of diving disorders

List of Signs and Symptoms of Diving Disorders

Diving disorders, also known as diving medicine or undersea and hyperbaric medicine, encompass a range of medical conditions that can occur during or after underwater diving. These conditions are primarily associated with the underwater environment's unique physical and physiological challenges, including changes in pressure and breathing gases. This article provides a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms associated with diving disorders, which are crucial for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in the field of diving medicine.

Decompression Sickness

Decompression sickness (DCS), often referred to as "the bends," occurs when dissolved gases (mainly nitrogen) come out of solution in bubbles and can affect virtually any area of the body. Symptoms can range from minor to life-threatening and include:

• Joint pain, often described as a dull ache, which is the most common symptom
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Rash or skin mottling
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Neurological symptoms, including numbness, tingling, and paralysis

Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE)

Arterial gas embolism can occur when breathing gas enters the circulation and blocks arterial blood flow, often a result of lung over-expansion injury. Symptoms include:

• Sudden loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Paralysis or weakness, particularly on one side of the body
• Visual disturbances
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Nitrogen Narcosis

Nitrogen narcosis, also known as "rapture of the deep," results from the narcotic effect of nitrogen under high pressure. Symptoms are similar to alcohol intoxication and include:

• Impaired judgment and coordination
• Euphoria or anxiety
• False sense of security
• Dizziness
• Slowed reaction time

Oxygen Toxicity

Oxygen toxicity occurs when divers are exposed to high concentrations of oxygen at elevated pressures, affecting the central nervous system (CNS) or lungs. Symptoms include:

• Visual disturbances and tunnel vision
• Nausea
• Twitching, especially of the face
• Dizziness and confusion
• Difficulty breathing (pulmonary oxygen toxicity)

Barotrauma

Barotrauma is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between an air space inside or beside the body and the surrounding fluid. Symptoms depend on the affected area but can include:

• Ear pain or hearing loss (ear barotrauma)
• Sinus pain (sinus barotrauma)
• Tooth pain (dental barotrauma)
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain (pulmonary barotrauma)

Hypothermia

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Symptoms include:

• Shivering, which may stop as hypothermia progresses
• Weakness and confusion
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Cold and pale skin
• Loss of consciousness

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of diving disorders involves proper training, adherence to dive planning and safety procedures, and the use of appropriate diving equipment. Treatment varies depending on the disorder but may include oxygen therapy, recompression therapy in a hyperbaric chamber, and supportive care for symptoms.