Sudden Sniffing Death

Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome is usually associated with cardiac arrest. The inhalant causes the heart to beat rapidly and erratically, resulting in cardiac arrest. Inhaled chemicals are rapidly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream and quickly distributed to the brain and other organs. 

Short-term effects of inhaling include:

• headaches
• muscle weakness
• abdominal pain
• severe mood swings
• violent behavior
• belligerence
• slurred speech
• numbness
• tingling of hands and feet
• nausea
• hearing loss
• depressed reflexes
• stupor
• loss of consciousness
• limb spasms
• fatigue
• lack of coordination
• apathy
• impaired judgment
• dizziness
• lethargy
• visual disturbances

Long-term effects of inhaling include:

• weight loss
• muscle weakness
• disorientation
• inattentiveness
• lack of coordination
• irritability
• depression

Harmful irreversible effects include:

• hearing loss
• limb spasms
• bone marrow
• central nervous system (including brain) damage