Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
At 16:14 16.06.98 -0400, you wrote: >I went to the denist yesterday and was put under with nitrous oxide(N20, >laughing gas) and before passing out I could not help but notice that it had >virtually the same effect as nitogen narcosis. That observation is right on -- in fact, nitrogen narcosis exerts its effect through exactly the same mechanism as nitrous oxide intoxication. Various lipid soluble gases start impeding nerve signals at different pressures. Xenon gives deep anesthesia on the surface; nitrous oxide gives deep anesthesia at about 1.5 atmospheres. Since it's impossible to sink down to deep anesthesia breathing nitrous oxide (+ a healthy amount of oxygen) on the surface, your "passing out" at the dentist's might have been the equivalent of a 170' - 300' air dive. You may be in a stupor, numb, hypnotic (idea fixation) etc. but you are not totally out. Nitrogen (air) gives deep (complete) anesthesia at 400' - 500'. Argon is about twice as narcotic as nitrogen. >Now when diving deep on air >it is always said that one should work ther way down slowly dive after dive >in order to build up a tollerance for the narcosis. While it may not be >wise to inhale N2O on a regular basis wouldn't help one to build up a >tollerance for narcosis. Thanks in advance for your comments. As others have said, while you won't increase your tolerance to any significant extent, you might be able to learn to get a grip on yourself and work within the limits imposed by the intoxication. It's amazing what can be accomplished if you slow down, however, since "slow" is the only pace you're capable of, it's equally amazing how you draw a blank the moment trivial problems come two at a time. While Cousteau's "Rapture of the Deep" may sound cool, gas anesthesia is its real name. Are you sure you want to dive under the influence, clench your teeth and make the best of it? Think "nitrous oxide" while you make that decision; it's the same thing! ;-) regards, Hans > >-- >Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. >Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'. > > -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]