Summary of Dissociation of the Behavioral and Subjective
Components of Nitrogen Narcosis and Diver Adaptation.
By: Samantha Michelle García Cerrud.
Nitrogen narcosis is related to the increased
solubility of gases in body tissues due to being subjected to increased
pressures at depth. Linked by many scuba divers as a similar feeling to being
drunk, nitrogen narcosis is also known as "Martini's Law" with the
rough guide that it is the equivalent of drinking one martini on an empty
stomach for every 10 feet that you descend. The effects of nitrogen narcosis
normally occur at depths of around 30m (100 feet) and below and it is not
possible to develop a tolerance to the effects, however, the symptoms are
completely reversible by ascending to shallower depths.
The full cause of inert gas narcosis isn’t fully
understood, but it is believed that a number of breathable gases react with the
body’s tissues, in particular with the lipid, or fat, tissues. As our brains
consist predominantly of lipid tissues, the effect is mostly felt here. The
precise mechanism is not well understood, but it appears to be the direct
effect of gas dissolving into nerve membranes and causing temporary disruption
in nerve transmissions.
At depth, nitrogen narcosis affects the body by
leading to a loss of decision making, and the ability to focus, along with
impaired judgement, multi-tasking and co-ordination. As with alcohol, the
reaction is due to personality, body size, fat content, mood, breathing depth,
activity, and what you are looking to do.
Due to its perception-altering effects, the onset of
narcosis may be hard to recognize. At its most benign, narcosis results in
relief of anxiety – a feeling of tranquility and mastery of the environment.
These effects are essentially identical to various concentrations of nitrous
oxide.
Such effects are not harmful unless they cause some
immediate danger to go unrecognized and unaddressed. Once stabilized, the
effects generally remain the same at a given depth, only worsening if the diver
ventures deeper.
Reference: http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/7742709
