Young man suffered spinal cord injury after abusing more than 50 laughing gas balloons at a time

After regularly inhaling nitrous oxide in laughing gas balloons, a 20-year-old man was hospitalized with numbness and weakness in his limbs and was diagnosed with cervical spinal cord injury.

Injury of young man after inhaling laughing gas.

Young man injured spinal cord after using more than 50 laughing gas balloons at a time

At Medlatec Tay Ho General Clinic, doctors have just received a case of a 20-year-old man who came to the clinic because of numbness, weak limbs, fatigue when moving, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and rapid heartbeat that lasted for more than a week.

Medical history showed that the patient had been using laughing gas regularly for more than a year, especially recently increasing to 3-4 times per week, each time using up to more than 50 balls.

Based on clinical manifestations, patients are indicated to perform specialized tests, measure motor and sensory conduction velocity, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck.

Test results showed that the concentration of vitamin B12 in the blood was significantly below normal. At the same time, nerve conduction recordings showed signs of nerve damage in the extremities, suspecting acute myelin damage (nerve fiber sheath).

Notably, MRI images revealed damage to the posterior cervical spine, extending from the second to the sixth cervical vertebrae - a typical lesion often seen in people who abuse N₂O gas for a long time.

The doctor concluded that the cause of the patient's abnormal symptoms was due to cervical spinal cord damage - a consequence of long-term abuse of laughing gas.

Specialist Doctor I Hoang Anh Tuan - Neurology Specialist, Medlatec Tay Ho said that long-term exposure to N₂O gas causes the body to deactivate vitamin B12, causing spinal cord damage. A common early sign is numbness in the limbs. If not detected promptly, severe nerve damage can lead to very slow recovery, or no recovery.

"In this case, the patient was diagnosed early so the prognosis and actual recovery process is very good if the regimen is strictly followed.

Patients are prescribed outpatient treatment according to prescriptions, and need to have regular check-ups to monitor progress, and have an MRI scan after 3-6 months to assess the level of recovery of the cervical spinal cord injury," said Dr. Tuan.

Dangerous consequences of laughing gas

At entertainment venues such as bars and karaoke, laughing gas has become a hobby that attracts many curious young people to experience as a trendy form of entertainment.

Laughing balloons are actually balloons filled with Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) - a colorless, odorless, flavorless compound. When inhaled, this gas will directly affect the nervous system, causing the body to feel excited, laughing uncontrollably, causing hallucinations that make the surrounding space more colorful and brilliant.

According to the Ministry of Health , this type of gas is used under control in medicine (anesthesia, pain relief, sedation...), industry (solar cell production, increasing engine power)..., in compliance with the standards of the International Food Standards Commission (Codex).

However, when misused, N₂O can leave a series of serious consequences for physical and mental health. The serious consequences of laughing gas abuse are no longer a distant warning, they are present, silently attacking the health of young people every day.

Specialist Doctor I Hoang Anh Tuan warns that long-term abuse of N₂O gas can cause nerve damage with symptoms such as convulsions, loss of sensation, motor paralysis, mental behavioral disorders, paranoia, and hallucinations. These symptoms can occur even with low doses.

Due to these harmful consequences, from January 1, 2025, according to Resolution 173/2024/QH15, laughing gas, shisha and electronic cigarettes are considered prohibited items in Vietnam. Accordingly, users and traders of these items will be subject to administrative or criminal sanctions depending on the severity of the violation.

From a professional perspective, Medlatec Healthcare System doctors recommend that people absolutely do not experiment or use laughing gas in any form. Instead, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a nutritious diet, exercise regularly and have regular health check-ups.

MANH TRAN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/lam-dung-bong-cuoi-hon-50-qua-moi-lan-nam-thanh-nien-ton-thuong-tuy-song-post895476.html