A Scuba Diver's Physical Attributes That Impact on Risk of Bends

Aug 13, 2010
Bruce Iliff

A Scuba Diver's Condition can Impact Bends Risk - Bruce ILIFF

A scuba diver's physical make-up affect their risk in getting the bends while scuba diving. Knowing these factors means a scuba diver can take precautions.

Scuba divers get the bends when nitrogen absorbed into body’s tissues during a scuba dive bubbles out into the blood during the ascent.

To reduce the risk of getting the bends (after a decompression scuba dive within decompression times and depths), a scuba diver must try to reduce this bubbling of nitrogen coming out of the tissues on the ascent.

A diver’s physical make-up can have an impact on a scuba diver getting the bends. The following are some aspects of a scuba diver’s physical condition that should be considered for divers undertaking deep dives in decompression times and limits.

For scuba divers in these risk categories, extra vigilance needs to be taken in planning a deep scuba dive involving decompression depths and times.

Physical Condition Can Impact a Scuba Diver Getting the Bends

Scuba diving is a strenuous activity that requires the body to be in good working condition. This requirement for good physical fitness is even more important when doing scuba dives into decompression depths and times.

A scuba diver who is unfit will generally have poor circulation, which is one of the main risk factors leading to the bends.

Age Has an Impact in Getting the Bends

The older a person gets, the less efficient their circulatory system becomes. Therefore, a scuba diver with a number of years under their dive belt may be more susceptible to the bends than a younger diver.

The older diver needs to be even more aware of the all factors in preventing the bends.

Gender Can Have an Impact on the Bends

It is believed that women generally have more body fat of the type that absorbs nitrogen easier than men, making women a bit more susceptible to the bends.

Overweight Scuba Divers Can be at Higher Risk of the Bends

Overweight scuba divers will have large amounts of fat where the nitrogen is absorbed during the dive. With higher fat content, the nitrogen can’t be expelled fast enough to lessen the risk of the bends.

Also, overweight scuba divers may generally have poor circulation which can be one of the risk factors leading to the bends; as discussed above.

Avoid Dehydration to Avoid the Bends

Dehydration, where the cells in the body don’t have adequate amount of fluid, means less places for the nitrogen to be absorbed. This leads to a concentration of nitrogen in certain areas that will result in nitrogen being released quicker and possibly in larger bubbles.

The other problem with dehydration is that the body will not be functioning at its best. As above, a scuba dive within decompression depths and times requires the body to be operating at its optimum.

Sickness and Fatigue Can Have an Impact on the Bends

Being generally unwell, sick or fatigued can result in reduced circulation and the body not functioning at this optimum.

The bends is a major risk for scuba divers undertaking dives into decompression depths and times. Treating the bends is possible, even by taking the scuba diver with the bends back underwater as a last resort treatment.

However, treatment is not an exact science, so prevention is preferable than undergoing treatment.

For those in a risk category, a few more minutes added on a decompression stop, or cutting short the time at the maximum depth may be a useful strategy.