Inhaling hundreds of "laughing balloons" every day, a couple is paralyzed on one side.

According to doctors at the Poison Control Center - Bach Mai Hospital, the couple Mr. NVT (36 years old) and Ms. PTH (32 years old), residing in Hanoi , after being hospitalized for treatment, had to undergo a long-term rehabilitation process due to the sequelae of paralysis, numbness in the limbs and sensory disturbances after a long time of inhaling "laughing gas".

According to Mr. T, the first time he tried laughing gas was at the end of last year, when he and his wife went out to Nguyen Hue walking street ( Ho Chi Minh City). Seeing his friends playing, he was curious, thinking it was fun and harmless, so he tried it. Unexpectedly, after just that time, he was hooked without realizing it.

From a few balls “for fun”, Mr. T gradually became addicted to the feeling of excitement that N₂O gas brings. “Every time I inhale, I feel like I am somewhere else - on the moon, under the sea, each person has a different kind of hallucination. At first, I feel refreshed and happy, but the more I play, the more I get hooked. Once, in just two days, I spent nearly 20 million VND to buy balls,” Mr. T said.

Inhale hundreds of fruits — Mr. T's hand was numb, unable to close and had lost feeling. (Photo: Mai Thanh)

After Mr. T inhaled laughing gas, his wife also used it. The couple hid from their children and family members and inhaled laughing gas in a private room. Whenever they felt tired or stressed, they would turn to laughing gas to find happiness.

At first, they inhaled a little, then the frequency of use increased day by day and became seriously addicted. There was a period when the couple played continuously, using 6-8 bottles each day, each bottle containing about 40 balloons, only stopping when they were too tired. There were weeks when the couple spent tens of millions just to inhale "laughing gas".

After nearly 10 months of using laughing gas, both of their bodies began to “send out distress signals”. At first, their hands were numb, and a few days later, the numbness spread to their legs, and they fell down when they stood up. At first, Mr. T thought it was due to lack of sleep, but when he felt unwell, he went to a private clinic for examination but could not find any illness. His wife also had similar symptoms, numbness in both feet, a feeling of “ants crawling inside her body”, and staggering when walking. When they could no longer lift their legs, the couple went to Bach Mai Hospital.

At the Poison Control Center, doctors concluded that both had cervical spinal cord damage due to N₂O gas poisoning, affecting motor and sensory nerves.

Both husband and wife are undergoing intensive rehabilitation, detoxification, combined with physical therapy and exercise. Doctors say the recovery process can last for many months, and may not even be complete if the spinal cord injury is severe.

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nguyen, Director of the Poison Control Center, Bach Mai Hospital, said that N₂O gas in laughing gas is a strong neurotoxin that can cause deep damage to three main organs: the nervous system, the blood system, and the reproductive system.

Neurologically, laughing gas destroys the myelin layer - the insulation of nerve fibers, causing the brain and spinal cord to "cut off" the signal transmission. The consequences are paralysis of the limbs, sensory disturbances, and even respiratory arrest. Some patients cannot sit up by themselves and are paralyzed.

Regarding blood, N₂O gas causes anemia and bone marrow failure similar to diseases caused by toxic chemicals. Regarding reproduction, many young patients have reduced sperm count, endocrine disorders, and decreased libido in both men and women.

In addition, through psychological surveys, the Center recorded that many people addicted to laughing gas suffered from memory disorders, depression, behavioral and emotional disorders - manifestations of chronic brain damage.

“Laughing gas has an addictive mechanism similar to drugs. Users must continuously increase the dose, from a few to dozens of balloons per day. Some people, after treatment, partially recover and then relapse. This is a disguised drug, both toxic and addictive, with absolutely no safe dose,” Dr. Nguyen emphasized.

Not only Mr. T and his wife, recently, the Center has continuously received cases of laughing gas poisoning, mainly young people.

There was a patient who was only 20 years old, after a few months of using laughing gas, had to be hospitalized with quadriplegia. MRI scans showed irreversible spinal cord damage. There was a patient who was only 25 years old, after being paralyzed, had to learn to walk like a child.

Given the unpredictable harm of "laughing gas", doctors warn that N₂O gas should not be inhaled directly. Just a few continuous inhalations can cause acute neurotoxicity. One minute of "high" can be exchanged for a lifetime of disability.

It is worrying that laughing gas is still being sold widely under the guise of "recreational gas". Authorities need to increase inspection and handling. In addition, communication needs to be stepped up, especially parents and schools need to increase supervision and education to prevent the risk of spreading among young people.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/hit-hang-tram-qua-bong-cuoi-moi-ngay-2-vo-chong-liet-nua-nguoi-i786156/