What happens when you get the bends?
In: Biology
I assume this is related to scuba diving, yes?
Basically, there is always a little bit of “air” disolved in your blood stream. Normally, this isn’t an issue because the amount dissolved is in balance with the atmospheric pressure and you don’t change pressure rapidly enough for any issues to arise.
However, when you dive, you go to depths where the pressure can be much, much higher. Due to this, more air gets dissolved in your blood stream. When you ascend _slowly_, this air can come out of your blood slowly and you don’t know anything is happening.
However, if you ascend too quickly, the air comes out too quickly and can actually form air bubbles in your blood vessels. These bubbles restrict blood flow, causing incredible pain and potential death. That is what the bends is.
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