SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Healthcare system sounds the alarm: Laughing gas causes cold injuries

Cold injuries have become an increasingly common consequence of laughing gas use. Now the healthcare system is sounding the alarm. It often involves fairly large areas and deep injuries, says Yihang Liu at Karolinska Hospital.

» Updated: 16 July 2024, 14:42

» Published: 06 July 2024

Healthcare system sounds the alarm: Laughing gas causes cold injuries
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

Cold injuries have become a increasingly common consequence of laughing gas use.

Now the healthcare system is sounding the alarm.

It's often quite large areas and deep injuries, says Yihang Liu at Karolinska Hospital.

Besides in Stockholm, the increase in cold injuries has also been seen in Örebro, which P4 Örebro previously reported on.

The most common injury is in the groin area between the inner thighs, according to Yihang Liu, resident physician in plastic surgery at Karolinska Hospital.

We believe it's because laughing gas users use large tubes that they have between their legs. When they use them, the container becomes extremely cold, causing severe frostbite, he says.

The severity of the injury depends on how long one is exposed to the cold.

Laughing gas has a pain-relieving effect, often patients have combined it with alcohol or other types of drugs and then they are quite numb. They don't notice that the injuries become so severe, says Liu.

It can take weeks to assess the depth of the injury and whether surgery is required. Often, the dead skin tissue is then cut away and replaced with the patient's own skin from the outer thigh.

From an aesthetic perspective, unfortunately, it results in large scars.

Cold injuries can also occur in and around the mouth, on the hands, and in the neck.

Laughing gas alarms are increasing

Why cold injuries have increased is not clear, but the alarms about laughing gas have become more frequent. In June, the Poison Information Centre had received 427 calls about laughing gas so far this year. That's almost double the number of calls during the same period last year, when 234 calls were received.

We see no decline. We are really worried about it and are watching it with great concern, says Jenny Bång Arhammar, chief physician and acting head of operations at the Poison Information Centre.

The most common calls concern various nerve damage or psychological problems.

People have difficulty walking and standing, can wet themselves, or get psychosis, depression, or dementia. It has overshadowed the cold injuries that may not be detected in the same way, says Bång Arhammar.

Young users

Laughing gas is primarily a common intoxicant among young people. Over 80 percent of the calls from the healthcare system to the Poison Information Centre concern people between 15 and 29 years old, with an equal number of women and men.

Currently, the market for laughing gas is unregulated. Earlier this year, a government inquiry proposed a total ban on selling laughing gas as an intoxicant. Furthermore, it was proposed that private individuals over 18 years old be allowed to buy a maximum of two cartridges at a time for, for example, cooking.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Demirok received district support at "non-crisis" meeting
2 MIN READ

Demirok received district support at "non-crisis" meeting

Suspected sabotaged cable to be repaired
1 MIN READ

Suspected sabotaged cable to be repaired

Tent protest ended – chained protesters cut loose
2 MIN READ

Tent protest ended – chained protesters cut loose

Swedish police are no longer allowed to enter Norway
1 MIN READ

Swedish police are no longer allowed to enter Norway

A prick in the finger can reveal Alzheimer's
2 MIN READ

A prick in the finger can reveal Alzheimer's

The Snow Chaos Continues – Many Without Power Tonight
2 MIN READ

The Snow Chaos Continues – Many Without Power Tonight

No Longer Rich and Famous Targets for Kidnappers
3 MIN READ

No Longer Rich and Famous Targets for Kidnappers

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly
2 MIN READ

The King on the Climate Meeting: It's Moving Too Slowly

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"
3 MIN READ

Resignation Demand on Demirok: "Weak Leadership"

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note
1 MIN READ

Town Hall Evacuated Due to Threatening Note

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice
1 MIN READ

The Government appoints new Chancellor of Justice

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"
2 MIN READ

The Liberals' office attacked: "Abhorrent"

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö
1 MIN READ

Three charged with thermos bomb in Malmö

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"
1 MIN READ

Kristersson: "Close dialogue with other countries"

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms
1 MIN READ

The Social Democrats want answers about stopped wind farms

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant
1 MIN READ

Two charged with fatal shooting at restaurant

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"
1 MIN READ

Power Outage in Court: "Sitting in Darkness"

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable
1 MIN READ

The Navy investigates sabotage on another cable

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.
3 MIN READ

The parties behind the Tidö agreement want a cap on the size of children's groups.

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship
1 MIN READ

Åkesson: Total Stop for Citizenship