A diver with nitrogen narcosis will typically show which symptoms?

A diver with nitrogen narcosis will typically show which symptoms?

• A. Breathlessness and cyanosis
• B. Altered mental status and impaired judgement
• C. Severe chest pain
• D. Headache

Answer: (B)

Nitrogen narcosis happens when dissolved nitrogen under pressure acts on the brain like a narcotic, producing acute neurocognitive changes. The classic presentation is altered mental status with impaired judgement—think intoxicated decision making, slowed thinking, and poorer coordination. This is a CNS effect, not a primary issue with breathing or the heart, so breathlessness and cyanosis or severe chest pain aren’t typical features of narcosis. Headache can occur with other diving-related problems, but it doesn’t define narcosis. The fix is to ascend to a shallower depth, which lowers the nitrogen partial pressure and relieves the symptoms quickly. So the symptoms described—altered mental status and impaired judgement—best capture what nitrogen narcosis looks like.

Nitrogen narcosis happens when dissolved nitrogen under pressure acts on the brain like a narcotic, producing acute neurocognitive changes. The classic presentation is altered mental status with impaired judgement—think intoxicated decision making, slowed thinking, and poorer coordination. This is a CNS effect, not a primary issue with breathing or the heart, so breathlessness and cyanosis or severe chest pain aren’t typical features of narcosis. Headache can occur with other diving-related problems, but it doesn’t define narcosis. The fix is to ascend to a shallower depth, which lowers the nitrogen partial pressure and relieves the symptoms quickly. So the symptoms described—altered mental status and impaired judgement—best capture what nitrogen narcosis looks like.