Which of the following best describes the physical symptoms of the chokes?

The physical symptoms of the chokes, which refer to decompression sickness or barotrauma associated with rapid descent in altitude or a sudden drop in pressure, are primarily characterized by deep sharp pain under the sternum along with a dry cough. This occurs due to the formation of gas bubbles in the body as nitrogen comes out of solution, leading to ischemia and inflammation in the lungs and chest area. The pain is often associated with difficulty in breathing and the dry cough is a response to irritation in the respiratory system.

Other symptoms may include difficulty in breathing and, in severe cases, can lead to respiratory failure. Focusing on the deep pain (often referred to as "chest pain") and the cough provides a clearer picture of the physiological response to the chokes, as opposed to the other options, which describe symptoms related to different conditions. For instance, dizziness and lightheadedness can occur in various scenarios of altitude sickness but aren’t specific to the chokes, while persistent headaches and vision changes suggest different issues such as altitude-induced cerebral edema. Fever and chills pertain more to infections or illnesses rather than the effects of rapid decompression. Thus, the encompassing description of pain and cough aligns accurately with the physical manifestations of the chokes.