Allergic reactions and strokes: The risks of doing poppers

Know the risks

4 years ago

Poppers sit in that perfectly sweet spot of drugs. They’re not overly intimidating for the casual drug user, the high is short-lived and relatively mild, and there are no obvious immediate side effects.

Oh, and they make you want to manically cram the nearest object up your most available orifice, which is a nice added bonus.

However, poppers may not be as carefree fun as one may wish to believe. Speaking to an actual doctor on the matter, Vice discovered that poppers can actually be pretty fucking dangerous when misused or taken by a person with pre-existing issues. So, before you go rushing off to your nearest corner shop to pick up a bottle of “room aroma”, make sure you know the facts with every risk associated with the risks of doing poppers.

Nosebleeds and acute erectile dysfunction

Poppers, chemically known as Alkyl Nitrites, work by dilating channels through which blood travels, increasing blood flow and relaxing muscles.

The nose is full of blood vessels, so is particularly susceptible to bleeding. The penis relies solely on blood flow to become erect, so any substance that compromises or changes blood flow can have an effect on the ability to sustain an erection.

Headaches and chest pain

If you’re a hypochondriac, poppers may not be the best substance for you to be taking as they can cause short term headaches and chest pain (the bread and butter of online symptom checkers). Again, these are short term risks and are mostly attributable to increased blood flow and potential drop of blood pressure, and will often not be attributable to something more serious.

It’s worth noting that if you do have issues with your heart, the chest pain is not something to be ignored as the change in blood pressure can lead you to become very ill.

Drinking or igniting

DRINKING POPPERS CAN LEAD TO DEATH.

According to Dr Boylan when speaking to Vice, one of the risks of doing poppers is that drinking them can lead to “Methaemoglobinaemia, which means the blood becomes unable to carry oxygen. This can be life-threatening.”

In addition to this, they’re incredibly flammable and can lead to chemical burns, so try to avoid even getting the liquid on your skin.

Sudden sniffing death syndrome

Frank claims that there have been reports of “Sudden sniffing death syndrome” due to development of an abnormal heart rhythm when sniffing poppers.

Although rare, this is worth considering if you believe that you may have heart difficulties.

So which people should definitely avoid poppers?

Let’s make this really simple:

People with heart problems
People with anaemia or other blood deficiencies
People with glaucoma
If you have taken viagra

Ignoring this information can lead to anything from organ damage to strokes and even death.

It essentially boils down to the individual making sure that they’re not being irresponsible by huffing for sustained periods, and ensuring they don’t tick any of the boxes above. Stay safe!