What is decompression sickness?
Decompression sickness (DCS) is due to the formation of inert gas bubbles in tissues and/or blood due to supersaturation. DCS can be caused by a reduction in ambient pressure during ascent from a dive, rapid altitude excursion, in space or a hyperbaric/hypobaric chamber.
How do members experience decompression sickness?
Top 5 symptoms reported by people with decompression sickness*
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Pain
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Depressed mood
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Anxious mood
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Fatigue
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Top treatments taken by people for decompression sickness*
Who has decompression sickness on PatientsLikeMe?
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 0 | |
| 20s | 1 | |
| 30s | 2 | |
| 40s | 3 | |
| 50s | 2 | |
| 60s | 2 | |
| 70+ | 2 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 6 | |
| Female | 5 |