What is the primary cause of decompression sickness?

The primary cause of decompression sickness is the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the body. When a diver ascends too quickly after spending time at depths, the pressure decreases rapidly. At higher pressures, nitrogen gas from the air we breathe dissolves into body tissues. If a diver ascends too rapidly, the nitrogen that was absorbed into the tissues has to escape quickly; it can form bubbles in the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. These bubbles can cause obstruction, inflammation, and pain, leading to the symptoms of decompression sickness.

Understanding this concept is crucial for divers, as it emphasizes the importance of allowing sufficient time for nitrogen to safely leave the body during ascent. This is why divers follow ascent rates and perform safety stops to mitigate the risk of bubble formation. Others factors, while important in their own right, such as descent rates, training, and dive time, are not the direct cause of decompression sickness. The primary phenomenon that leads to this condition is indeed the formation of those nitrogen bubbles due to rapid pressure changes.