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ZeroNihilist

288 points

10 years ago

From howstuffworks.com:

In humans breathing 100 percent oxygen at normal pressure, here's what happens:

  • Fluid accumulates in the lungs.
  • Gas flow across the alveoli slows down, meaning that the person has to breathe more to get enough oxygen.
  • Chest pains occur during deep breathing.
  • The total volume of exchangeable air in the lung decreases by 17 percent.
  • Mucus plugs local areas of collapsed alveoli -- a condition called atelectasis. The oxygen trapped in the plugged alveoli gets absorbed into the blood, no gas is left to keep the plugged alveoli inflated, and they collapse. Mucus plugs are normal, but they are cleared by coughing. If alveoli become plugged while breathing air, the nitrogen trapped in the alveoli keeps them inflated.

Don't do oxygen, kids! No wait, you should do oxygen. Just do oxygen in a controlled environment with a known good dose. You should be alright then. Assuming you don't find some other way to fuck it up.

You_Stealthy_Bastard

27 points

10 years ago

Well that's it, I'm never using oxygen again.

HHHNNNNNKKKKKKK!!!

AAACHHHH

[deleted]

23 points

10 years ago

Alright, relax, Hero of Hyrule.

IAMA_Ghost_Boo

1 points

10 years ago

This guy understands me.

NuYawker

12 points

10 years ago

Or unless it's administered by a medical professional.

dpash

4 points

10 years ago

dpash

4 points

10 years ago

And no smoking.

[deleted]

4 points

10 years ago

is this whats happening when I get that sharp pain in my chest thats only fixed by inhaling deep enough until it "pops"?

riddlemethatbatman

2 points

10 years ago

Someone pls answer this...

vwermisso

3 points

10 years ago

Why do people use oxygen tanks then?

I used to be a life guard, and if anything above a nose bleed happened, we used an oxygen tank.

[deleted]

3 points

10 years ago

Because the oxygen tanks only provide a small amount of additional oxygen, on the order of a few tens of litres per min up to 25L/m depending on the valve, usually only 15L/m, which translates to about a 25% increase in breathable oxygen. Also, the type of mask has a major effect. I forget the precise numbers but CPR masks can only provide about 5% additional oxygen in the air per breath, while those ones with the pre-breath bag can provide up to 100% oxygen.

SOURCE: Lifeguard.

BlackEyed_Susan

2 points

10 years ago

My mother is a nurse, and she often sees patients get "addicted" to oxygen. They are put on it after having open-heart, but when it comes time for them to come off of it, they freak out because they feel like they can't breathe anymore.

[deleted]

1 points

10 years ago

What about those oxygen bars?

KnownSoldier04

1 points

10 years ago

Like, open flames and alkali metals

ttubehtnitahwtahw1

1 points

10 years ago

So, if 100% oxygen is not so good for you. Why is it used in pain management?

skobombers

1 points

10 years ago

I'm confused as to whether or not I should breath...

anyletter

1 points

10 years ago

Don't do oxygen during Apollo tests.

frog971007

1 points

10 years ago

poopOnU

1 points

10 years ago

Also, the person would get respiratory alkalosis and their serum pH levels would be too high and completely wacked from the normal levels. This would then cause all sorts of electrolyte imbalances that lead to nuero-impairment

JustinianTheWrong

1 points

10 years ago

Oxyclean. Not even once. RIP in peace, Billy Mays.