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

They are typically used to treat decompression sickness for scuba divers, carbon monoxide poisoning, gangrene and certain kinds of wounds or injuries that won't heal on their own, according to Johns Hopkins. —Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025

Simply entering or exiting a spacecraft can induce the bends—decompression sickness—in which dissolved nitrogen forms bubbles in the blood. —Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Oxygen flowing into the suits helps purge excess nitrogen from the crew members’ bodies, which lowers the risk of decompression sickness during the spacewalk. —Denise Chow, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2024

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used to treat a variety of conditions, including severe burns, wounds, decompression sickness, and carbon monoxide poisoning. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for <span class="syl">decompression sickness</span>

• homesickness
• seasickness
• quickness
• thickness

Kids Definition

decompression sickness

noun

: bend entry 2 sense 3

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