helium balloons?

Question

i've never actually sucked the helium out of a balloon but my old science teacher told me that i've you take to much you could die

is that true?

Answer 1

Yes, however it is used in deep sea diving mixed with Oxygen and nitrogen, but under that pressure it reacts different in your body

Answer 2

That is true.

Inhaling helium for a breath or two is generally harmless. There are reports of brain injury and even death after inhaling helium, but these have occurred after prolonged inhalation (which leads to inadequate oxygen in the lungs and blood) or after inhaling the helium from a pressurized tank (which can force gas bubbles into the bloodstream, a dangerous problem that can cause a stroke).

So, there is generally little risk to the usual party trick of inhaling a small amount of helium from a balloon, and it wears off quickly, once air has a chance to replace the helium in your upper airways.

Answer 3

If you are sucking it out of a balloon then you are ok. If you are huffing other stuff, from balloons, cans or other containers you are risking a lot. Helium doesn't make you "high" it just makes your voice funny. You could get a dizzy from the increase in CO2 in your brain--one balloon is usually not enough to make you pass out. Passing out is your body's way of saying "stop what you are doing, it's hurting the organism as a whole" and well you usually stop hurting yourself.

Answer 4

Untrue but you have to breathe oxygen in between times otherwise you will collapse due to oxygen deficiency. Seen somebody flake out after breathing in the contents of one balloon. He was fine afterwards, just needed the O2 stuff rather than the He stuff.

Answer 5

I guess its possible you could die, the gas is not poisonous but it would fill up your lungs with gas that would displace oxygen, kind of like inhaling too much CO2, its not poisonous in itself but it blocks intake of O2, which you need every minute or two to stay alive.

Answer 6

Yeah, too much of anything can kill you. Lets say you are stuck in a room with only helium you will die.

Answer 7

if you do it over and over again and breathe it in alottt then yea you can but if you do it only a little you wont.. so if you do breath after breath and just keep sucking in then watch out

Answer 8

well, yes if you do it in large amounts (this is my chemistry speaking talking tho) but normally, you'll just paralyze your vocal chords and it will catch up on you in later life. I'd love to try it lol.

Answer 9

yes you could replace the oxygen in your lungs... anything in excess is bad for you

Answer 10

If it's not oxygen its bad for you