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Revision as of 05:20, 22 August 2002 by Heron (talk | contribs) (oxygen toxicity)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The bends (properly called decompression sickness) is a condition experienced by divers who ascend too quickly. It is caused by air bubbles in the blood vessels. Because helium causes this less than nitrogen, deep-sea divers breathe heliox.
Alternative name: caisson disease.
Other ill effects experienced by divers are nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity.