Complications associated with changes in environmental pressure and with breathing compressed gas are known as what?

Complications associated with changes in environmental pressure and with breathing compressed gas are known as what?

• A. Hyperbaric injury
• B. Barotrauma symptom complex
• C. Altitude sickness
• D. Dysbarism

Answer: (D)

Dysbarism is the umbrella term for injuries and illnesses caused by changes in ambient pressure or by breathing gas under pressure. It covers barotrauma, where pressure changes injure air-filled spaces such as the ears, sinuses, or lungs during ascent or descent, and decompression illness, where dissolved gases form bubbles when pressure decreases (as in diving or rapid decompression). It also includes other gas-related effects from breathing compressed air, such as issues that arise specifically from high-pressure breaths. Altitude sickness is limited to problems from high-altitude hypobaric exposure, not the full spectrum of pressure-related complications, and barotrauma symptom complex is not a standard overarching term.

Dysbarism is the umbrella term for injuries and illnesses caused by changes in ambient pressure or by breathing gas under pressure. It covers barotrauma, where pressure changes injure air-filled spaces such as the ears, sinuses, or lungs during ascent or descent, and decompression illness, where dissolved gases form bubbles when pressure decreases (as in diving or rapid decompression). It also includes other gas-related effects from breathing compressed air, such as issues that arise specifically from high-pressure breaths. Altitude sickness is limited to problems from high-altitude hypobaric exposure, not the full spectrum of pressure-related complications, and barotrauma symptom complex is not a standard overarching term.