What Happens If You Inhale Helium

Helium is a light, inert gas used for MRI machines, cryogenic research, heliox, and helium balloons. You may have heard inhaling helium can be dangerous, sometimes even fatal, but have you ever wondered just how likely you are to harm your health breathing helium? Heres what you need to know. Inhaling Helium from Balloons If you inhale helium from a balloon, you get a squeaky voice. You may also get light-headed because youre breathing in pure helium gas rather than oxygen-containing air. This can lead to hypoxia or low oxygen. If you take more than a couple of breaths of helium gas, you could pass out. Unless you hit your head when you fall, youre unlikely to suffer any lasting harm from the episode. You may get a headache and a dry nasal passage. Helium is non-toxic and youll start breathing normal air as soon as you move away from the balloon. Breathing Helium From a Pressurized Tank Inhaling helium from a pressurized gas tank, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous. Because the pressure of the gas is much greater than that of air, the helium could rush into your lungs, causing them to hemorrhage or burst. Youll wind up in the hospital or possibly the morgue. This phenomenon isnt exclusive to helium. Inhaling any pressurized gas can and probably will harm you. Do not attempt to breathe gas from a tank. Other Ways of Inhaling Helium Its dangerous to put yourself into a giant helium balloon because youll deprive yourself of oxygen and wont automatically start breathing normal air after you start suffering the effects of hypoxia. If you see a giant balloon, resist any urge to try to get inside it. Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen. It is used for scuba diving and also for medicine, because its easier for the lighter gas to pass through obstructed airways. Because heliox contains oxygen in addition to helium, this mixture does not cause oxygen starvation. Test your knowledge of helium with a quick helium facts quiz.