The recent event of a teenage boy suffering a heart attack from an alleged ‘huffing’ incident should have placed many questions in every parents mind.
Huffing has been described as inhaling a gas or solvent which is not intended for use in a medical sense. Well known solvents are Glue, and benzene, but becoming more popular are aerosol sprays like deodorants. These inhalants are taken in to the lungs via the nose and mouth, and may produce a number of symptoms. A ‘feel good’ symptom, which is experienced in mild cases of the substance inhalation, is light headedness.
Many of these inhalants are quickly absorbed by the lungs and are transferred into the blood stream. The molecules in the lungs, which would normally be filled by oxygen, are now filled with the substance that has been inhaled. The body is then deprived of essential oxygen, most importantly the brain, and this causes the light headedness. In more severe cases, a person will increasingly lose consciousness as the brain suffers more extensive oxygen deprivation.
Oxygen deprivation affects every organ in the body. Oxygen is an essential part of every organs function, and periods of oxygen deprivation leads to death of the cells in these essential organs. Heart attacks and strokes can be seen in children who suffer severe symptoms after huffing. These incidents usually remain unexplained, and are only found to be related to huffing after a full toxicology report has been done.
Sadly, the ages most likely affected by the practice of huffing are between 8 and 15. We tend to think that these children will be from poorer communities, or have parents that are drug addicts. The reality is that it can affect any child. If the inhalants are readily available, which they are, any child can have access to them. Without the knowledge of the dangers of huffing, children will continue to experiment as king as it makes them feel good.
Talk to your children about the dangers of practicing huffing. It may prevent an unexplained tragedy happening to your family.
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