Death by helium?

Question

How long would someone need to breathe helium (the kind they use in normal party balloons) to die of asphyxiation? Is the time any different than holding your breath underwater? Does it have any long-term effect? Is it fine to breathe in 1/3 of a normal party balloon size of helium?
Thanks

Answer 1

well lack of oxygen alone can cause serious brain damage, what your talking about is replacing the oxygen with helium so its only worse. however i think the amount of time breathing helium would be slightly more because its impure. there is some oxygen in it.

Answer 2

If it's harmful to breathe in more than 1/3 of a standard party balloon, I think a LOT of people would be dead already. As for the rest, I'm not sure but it's an intriguing thought!

So, if you died of helium asphyxiation, would your body be found on the ceiling? ;-)

Answer 3

People use helium to breathe when they are doing deep water dives so I am pretty sure it does not harm.
I have seen people taking hits off the large tanks just for fun and to make their voice sound funny. That is okay but I have heard that if you are not careful you could damage your lungs with the amount of pressure that comes out of the large tanks.
Breathing out of party ballons is fine, i have never heard of any problems with that.

Answer 4

Breathing helium kills your brain cells and doesn't allow your heart to pump oxygen to your muscles that's what gives you a 'high.' I suspect that you would die within a couple of minutes of inhaling pure helium.

Answer 5

one or two breaths won't hurt. it's the same as holding your breath. Adam Savage from Mythbusters only took a very few breaths to feel dizzy.

Answer 6

I sure hope not...because if thats the case i would be long dead by now...