Final answer:
Decompression sickness, also known as the bends, can occur during scuba diving or with loss of cabin pressure while flying. It is caused by the increased pressure of the air inhaled by divers or passengers at high altitudes, leading to the formation of gas bubbles in the bloodstream. Preventive measures and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are used to treat this condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decompression sickness (DCS), or "the bends," is a condition that can occur during scuba diving or with loss of cabin pressure while flying. It is caused by the increased pressure of the air inhaled by divers or passengers at high altitudes, which leads to the formation of gas bubbles in the bloodstream. These bubbles can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from joint pain to paralysis and even death. To prevent the bends, divers must ascend slowly or make decompression stops, and those affected by DCS are often provided hyperbaric oxygen therapy in decompression chambers.