The Effects of Huffing Tech Spray

Tech spray is commonly called computer cleaner, canned-air or freezing spray. Computer cleaner is liquified gas containing either the chemical tetrafluoroethane or difluoroethane. These chemicals, along with nitrous oxide, create a euphoric or "high" feeling when inhaled, similar to consuming alcohol. There are many health risks involved with huffing tech spray.

Short-Term Effects

• Huffing tech spray feels similar to having a few alcoholic drinks. The effects on the brain cause lack of coordination, dizziness, elation, inattentiveness and difficulty speaking. Some users may also have hallucinations and delusions. When tech spray is combined with other inhalants the user may become confused, have nausea and abdominal pain, vomit or lose consciousness.

Hypoxia

• Huffing tech spray replaces oxygen in lungs with the inhalant, depriving the body of oxygen. This is called hypoxia. Hypoxia kills cells in the body and brain, causing memory loss, hearing loss and difficulty learning new things. Hypoxia in the brain causes brain damage.

Nervous System Effects

• Inhaling tech sprays over time causes myelin, the tissue surrounding and protecting nerves, to break down. Myelin helps the nerves carry messages from the brain to the body. Decreased myelin leads to tremors and spasms in the body causing the abuser to have problems with movement and speech.

Effects on the Organs

• Long-term use can cause both kidney damage and liver disease. Kidney damage leads to a build up of toxins in the body and blood. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, anemia and loss of appetite. Eventually kidney damage can lead to heart problems, complete organ failure or a coma. Liver disease symptoms include weakness, abdominal pain, jaundice and loss of appetite. Advanced liver disease, known as cirrhosis can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, edema, coma or kidney failure.

Fatal Effects

• Most users will lose consciousness long before they inhale a fatal amount of the tech spray, but some abusers may die. The most common reason is sudden sniffing death, which induces heart failure minutes after the spray was inhaled. Occasionally abusers can die of suffocation from hypoxia. Chances of fatality are increased when the spray is inhaled in a paper bag or confined area with little ventilation.