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Article: Heart defect may lie behind 'bends.' (decompression sickness)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- March 25, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Heart defect may lie behind 'bends'
A hidden, residual defect in the heart, left over from early development in the womb, may explain many cases of decompression sickness, or the "bends," in adult scuba divers, preliminary research suggests. If confirmed in larger studies, the findings could lead to changes in the U.S. Navy's decompression tables, which spell out the maximum rate at which divers should ascend from deep dives. Or it may lead to stricter requirements for medical testing among those seeking certification for deep-water dives.
Decompression sickness results when tiny, dissolved nitrogen bubbles expand in blood before they can escape through ...