High Pressure Nervous Syndrome

The High Pressure Nervous Syndrome ( HPNS ), also known colloquially as helium tremors or helium tremors , is a disorder of the central nervous system caused by the breathing of helium in gas mixtures at high helium partial pressures .

Occur

HPNS occurs mainly during technical diving at depths of several hundred meters . At these depths, air can no longer be used as breathing gas because oxygen is toxic from a partial pressure of around 1.6 bar ( oxygen toxicosis ) and nitrogen increasingly triggers deep intoxication. This is why the proportion of oxygen in special breathing gases such as Trimix , Heliox or Hydreliox is reduced and the nitrogen is partially or completely replaced by helium, which does not have a narcotic effect.

Symptoms

First, an uncontrolled tremor of body parts sets in, the helium tremor. Later, dizziness, incoordination and sometimes fatal cramps can occur. In some cases, however, the symptoms subside or disappear completely - with continued intake.

remedy

The HPNS can partially be restricted by adding a narcotic gas such as hydrogen or nitrogen, whereby the toxic effect of helium is partially canceled. However, significant successes cannot be achieved with it.

Web links

• Deep diving, section: HPNS - the reaction of the nervous system to high pressures

Individual evidence

1. ↑ AOBrubakk, TS Neuman: Bennett and Elliott's physiology and medicine of diving, 5th edition . Saunders Ltd., 2003, ISBN 0-7020-2571-2 , pp. 800 (English).
2. ↑ DiveAdventures.net: Scuba Glossary: High pressure nervous syndrome

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !