Laughing gas line destroyed, doctor warns of nerve damage

Recently, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police coordinated to destroy a large-scale ring specializing in the production and trading of banned goods such as laughing gas (N2O), arresting 11 subjects in many provinces and cities.

Inside the subjects' factory (Photo: Thanh Hoa Police).

Danger from laughing gas

According to Master, Doctor Hoang Tien Trong Nghia, Head of the Department of Neurology, Military Hospital 175 ( Ministry of National Defense ), laughing gas (N2O) is a colorless, slightly sweet gas, which is used in medicine for anesthesia and pain relief purposes.

However, this gas is being abused as a stimulant, creating a feeling of excitement, "high" and uncontrollable laughter.

The mechanism of action of laughing gas directly affects the central nervous system. Regular use can lead to many serious consequences including vitamin B12 deficiency, damage to the spinal cord and peripheral nervous system, mental disorders and cardiovascular problems.

"Most patients said they inhaled laughing gas for entertainment, relaxation or because of substance addiction. Many patients have high educational levels but are still subjective, underestimating the harmful effects of 'laughing gas', leading to abuse and leaving serious health consequences.

This is a substance that has the risk of being addictive and creating hallucinations with a tendency to increase the dose over time," Dr. Nghia emphasized.

Laughing gas is easily bought and sold directly at entertainment venues. (Photo: Dieu Linh).

Sharing more, Dr. Le Nhat Duy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3 explained that when inhaling laughing gas for a long time or in large amounts, N2O can cause a decrease in the absorption of vitamin B12 - an important factor in maintaining the function of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

When vitamin B12 is lacking, the protective myelin sheaths around nerve fibers are affected, leading to ineffective transmission of electrical impulses. This leads to symptoms such as numbness in the limbs, psychological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, seriously affecting health.

More and more young people are going to the doctor because of laughing gas abuse.

According to Dr. Duy’s observation, recently, the number of young people coming to the doctor with symptoms of numbness in their hands and feet has been increasing. Among them, an alarming cause is the abuse of laughing gas.

Typically, a 22-year-old male student came to the hospital with symptoms of numbness in his hands and feet lasting for 2 months, accompanied by muscle weakness and difficulty walking.

Medical history shows that the patient has no underlying medical conditions and regularly uses laughing gas at parties, with an average frequency of 10-20 balls each time, 2-3 times/week in the past 6 months.

At the hospital, doctors discovered that the patient had widespread numbness in both arms and legs, especially in the fingertips; upper limb muscle strength was reduced to 4/5.

Electromyography (EMG) revealed decreased nerve function. These findings suggest peripheral nerve damage related to vitamin B12 deficiency, a common consequence of nitrous oxide abuse.

According to Dr. Duy, people who use laughing gas often experience symptoms of numbness in their hands and feet, especially in their fingers and toes; loss of sensation in their limbs; muscle weakness, and difficulty moving.

In severe cases, the patient can cause damage to the spinal cord and brain, leading to serious neurological health problems such as sensory disturbances, numbness, and muscle paralysis. In addition, other symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and memory loss may also appear.

Doctors recommend that when people have unusual symptoms, they should go to the hospital immediately for examination, diagnosis and early treatment to prevent serious complications.

"If the signs are detected early and treated early according to the correct regimen, and laughing gas is not reused, the patient can recover normally," said Dr. Nghia.

In addition, the doctor also noted that patients should not conceal their medical history during the declaration process. This can cause difficulties in diagnosis for doctors, significantly affecting the treatment process as well as the recovery of the patient himself.

In addition, there should be propaganda and management measures to minimize the abuse of laughing gas in the community, especially among young people.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/duong-day-khi-cuoi-bi-triet-pha-bac-si-canh-bao-ton-thuong-than-kinh-20250519160422784.htm