{"id":112366,"date":"2026-07-08T08:32:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oceanografic.org\/?page_id=112366"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:32:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:32:43","slug":"bubbles-in-the-bloodstream","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.oceanografic.org\/en\/bubbles-in-the-bloodstream\/","title":{"rendered":"Bubbles in the Bloodstream: Decompression Sickness in Sea Turtles"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For many years, scientists believed that sea turtles were naturally protected against decompression sickness<\/strong>. Like other diving animals, they were thought to possess physiological adaptations that completely prevented the formation of harmful gas bubbles during dives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research led by the Fundaci\u00f3n Oceanogr\u00e0fic<\/a> has fundamentally changed that understanding. Scientists demonstrated for the first time that sea turtles accidentally caught in fishing nets can develop decompression sickness<\/strong>, also known as decompression disease<\/strong>, a condition similar to that experienced by human divers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This discovery has transformed both marine veterinary medicine and sea turtle<\/a> conservation worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is decompression sickness?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decompression sickness<\/strong> occurs when nitrogen dissolved in the blood and tissues forms gas bubbles after changes in pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple way to understand this process is to imagine opening a bottle of sparkling water. While the bottle is sealed, the gas remains dissolved under pressure. Once opened, bubbles rapidly appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar process can occur inside the body. During a dive, increased pressure allows more nitrogen to dissolve into body tissues. If protective mechanisms fail, gas bubbles may develop within blood vessels and organs, causing gas embolism<\/strong> and potentially life-threatening injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n