Final answer:
Air travel within 24 hours after diving increases the risk of decompression sickness, where a slow ascent and decompression stops are crucial to prevent it. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the standard treatment. Research for better treatment is ongoing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Air travel within 24 hours of scuba diving increases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). This condition, also known as 'the bends,' occurs when dissolved gases in the body become less soluble due to a decrease in ambient pressure as the diver ascends. These gases can form bubbles in the bloodstream if a diver ascends too rapidly, leading to symptoms like rashes, joint pain, or in severe cases, paralysis and death. To mitigate the risk, divers must follow a slow ascent rate, typically recommended between 10 to 20 meters per minute, and make decompression stops if necessary. If decompression sickness still occurs, treatment often involves hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a decompression chamber. Advances in research, including the work of barophysiologists such as Ingrid Eftedal, aim to develop better testing and treatments through understanding changes in white blood cells caused by DCS. These findings could lead to the development of biomarker tests and enhanced treatment protocols for this potentially life-threatening condition.