- Inner ear barotrauma. This condition may occur if you have trouble clearing (equilizing the pressure between the middle ear and the water-- sometimes called "popping your ears") during a dive. The result is severe dizziness and hearing loss.
- Pulmonary barotrauma. This condition is the result of improper breathing during the ascent to the surface or, occasionally, from diving with a respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and hoarseness.
- Arterial gas embolism (AGE). This is a type of barotrauma in which bubbles enter the blood stream and travel to the brain. Symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the skin, weakness, paralysis or loss of consciousness may occur. This is a serious diving injury.
- Decompression sickness ("the bends"). This condition occurs during ascent and on the surface of the water. Nitrogen gas that is stored in body tissues and blood comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the blood. The bubbles can injure various body tissues and block blood vessels. The most common signs of severe decompression sickness are dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain and lungs.
Remember: If you should develop any of the symptoms on this list during or after a dive, seek medical care immediately.
