What Does inhalation Mean
Inhalation is a concept whose etymological root is found in the Latin word inhalatio . The term refers to the act of inhaling : breathing in something , either voluntarily or involuntarily.
As part of the breathing process , inhalation is an essential action for life. In the case of humans and many animals, inhalation allows air from outside to enter the lungs . This is the first step of breathing, which also involves expelling the already modified air.
Thanks to inhalation, an individual incorporates the oxygen he needs to live. Then, by exhaling, you expel carbon dioxide. Respiration, therefore, involves a gaseous exchange with the external environment.
It is important to mention that breathing is an automatic process: people do not think to carry it out, they do it involuntarily. However, it is possible to do a conscious inhalation for certain purposes: to relax, as part of a meditation , etc.
Inhalation also takes place in other ways beyond breathing. It may be a voluntary action to inhale some narcotic or hallucinogenic substance , to name a case. There are those who inhale certain glues since, due to their components, they generate intoxication, excitement or drowsiness .
A malfunctioning stove , on the other hand, can cause poisoning from inhaling carbon monoxide . This odorless gas is produced by combustion and, if it does not go outside through proper ventilation of the appliance, it accumulates in the environment: when someone inhales it, they become intoxicated and can even die.
Involuntary inhalation occurs in various settings, and the types of substances are divided into four main groups: aerosols, gases, nitrites, and volatile solvents. Minus the nitrites, the other three can modify the mood of the individual, leading to a state of stupefaction. Nitrites, meanwhile, can activate and enhance sexual desire .
Let's see below more characteristics of each group of chemical substances that are usually involved in inhalation cases:
* Aerosols are found in almost every home, whether in the form of deodorant, paint or lacquer, as well as vegetable oil for the kitchen, as long as these products are marketed in sprays. Because they are so common, the risk of inhalation is especially high;
* Gases are a large group, since it includes commercial or domestic products such as propane tanks, refrigerants and butane lighters, but also those with medicinal purposes, such as the well-known laughing gas (nitrous oxide) and ether ;
* Nitrites , both cyclohexyl, butyl and amyl, are also called poppers or love drugs , which have aphrodisiac effects. We can find them in certain deodorant capsules and air freshener products for domestic and commercial use;
* Volatile solvents are liquids that turn into a gaseous state when exposed to room temperature. This group includes liquid markers, gasoline, glues, paint removers, and paint thinners.
People who voluntarily inhale are looking for precisely some of the aforementioned effects, which are generally associated with euphoria and enhanced pleasure . However, these last very little, and for this reason substance abuse is common. It goes without saying that the degree of damage to the body is directly proportional to the amount of toxic substance that enters it. In addition, not all the effects are positive, since in addition to the longed-for hallucinations come vomiting, dizziness and lack of coordination.