What Happens to Your Body During Decompression Sickness?

Vector-style underwater medical illustration of a human diver with exposed internal organs and blood vessels, demonstrating the physiological effects of decompression sickness.

Decompression sickness (DCS), commonly known as “the bends,” is a potentially dangerous condition caused by rapid pressure changes, affecting scuba divers, aviators, astronauts, and compressed-air workers. When a person moves from a high-pressure environment to a low-pressure environment too quickly, the nitrogen gas absorbed by the body under pressure forms gas bubbles in the bloodstream and tissues. These bubbles … Read more