eli5 Why are air embolisms so deadly? Like, what about an air bubble can’t your body fix pretty easily?

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I would have thought that an air bubble gets popped and we move on. That the gas eventually dissolves and gets passed somehow.

So, what’s going on? Why does the heart stop so violently? It acts like there was an implosion on the inside…

In: 1487

57 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Man, one of the freakiest things on TV that I will never forget because it scarred me is when they blow the air into that guy’s IV on Orange Is The New Black. Absolutely horrifying.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Since your veins and arteries are basically a hydraulic system an air bubble can cause a vapor lock. when the air hits your heart it causes it to not work properly. The heart is a fluid pump not a gas one

Anonymous 0 Comments

I love the tone of your post lmaooooo it’s like “Why is the body being so dramatic ?!?!” I agree lol. Whilst I’ve read these awesome replies and they make total sense, it still seems pretty absurd / so weird that we can go through so much shit and survive ….. but that one lil air bubble can take us right out. Wild !!!!

Anonymous 0 Comments

Man, one of the freakiest things on TV that I will never forget because it scarred me is when they blow the air into that guy’s IV on Orange Is The New Black. Absolutely horrifying.

Anonymous 0 Comments

Since your veins and arteries are basically a hydraulic system an air bubble can cause a vapor lock. when the air hits your heart it causes it to not work properly. The heart is a fluid pump not a gas one

Anonymous 0 Comments

Since your veins and arteries are basically a hydraulic system an air bubble can cause a vapor lock. when the air hits your heart it causes it to not work properly. The heart is a fluid pump not a gas one

Anonymous 0 Comments

Okay but what causes it?

Anonymous 0 Comments

I love the tone of your post lmaooooo it’s like “Why is the body being so dramatic ?!?!” I agree lol. Whilst I’ve read these awesome replies and they make total sense, it still seems pretty absurd / so weird that we can go through so much shit and survive ….. but that one lil air bubble can take us right out. Wild !!!!

Anonymous 0 Comments

I love the tone of your post lmaooooo it’s like “Why is the body being so dramatic ?!?!” I agree lol. Whilst I’ve read these awesome replies and they make total sense, it still seems pretty absurd / so weird that we can go through so much shit and survive ….. but that one lil air bubble can take us right out. Wild !!!!

Anonymous 0 Comments

Okay but what causes it?