Other symptoms include: dizziness feeling and being sick tiredness and confusion stomach pain shortness of breath and difficulty breathing The symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be similar to those of food poisoning and flu.
But unlike flu, carbon monoxide poisoning does not cause a high temperature. Your symptoms may be less severe when you're away from the source of the carbon monoxide. This can happen within 2 hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. Long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as: difficulty thinking or concentrating frequent emotional changes — for example, becoming easily irritated, depressed, or making impulsive or irrational decisions Breathing in high levels of carbon monoxide gas can cause more severe symptoms.
These may include: impaired mental state and personality changes intoxication the feeling that you or the environment around you is spinning vertigo loss of physical co-ordination caused by underlying damage to the brain and nervous system ataxia breathlessness and a heart rate of more than beats per minute tachycardia chest pain caused by angina or a heart attack an uncontrollable burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes muscle spasms seizures loss of consciousness — in cases where there are very high levels of carbon monoxide, death may occur within minutes What causes carbon monoxide to leak?
Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully. Burning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas. Gas, oil, coal and wood are sources of fuel used in many household appliances, including: boilers gas fires central heating systems water heaters cookers open fires Incorrectly installed, poorly maintained or poorly ventilated household appliances, such as cookers, heaters and central heating boilers, are the most common causes of accidental exposure to carbon monoxide.
Other possible causes of carbon monoxide poisoning include: blocked flues and chimneys — this can stop carbon monoxide escaping, allowing it to reach dangerous levels burning fuel in an enclosed or unventilated space — for example, running a car engine, petrol-powered generator or barbecue inside a garage, or a faulty boiler in an enclosed kitchen faulty or blocked car exhausts — a leak or blockage in the exhaust pipe, such as after heavy snowfall, could lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide paint fumes — some cleaning fluids and paint removers contain methylene chloride dichloromethane ; this substance is broken down by the body into carbon monoxide smoking shisha pipes indoors — shisha pipes burn charcoal and tobacco, which can lead to a build-up of carbon monoxide in enclosed or unventilated rooms Treating carbon monoxide poisoning Seek medical advice from your GP if you think you have been exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide.
Your house will also need to be checked for safety before anyone returns. Standard oxygen therapy Standard oxygen therapy in hospital will be needed if you have been exposed to a high level of carbon monoxide, or you have symptoms that suggest exposure. Breathing in concentrated oxygen enables your body to quickly replace carboxyhaemoglobin. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Hyperbaric oxygen therapy HBOT floods the body with pure oxygen, helping it overcome the oxygen shortage caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Standard oxygen therapy is usually the recommended treatment option. Recovery The length of time it takes to recover from carbon monoxide poisoning will depend on how much carbon monoxide you have been exposed to and how long you have been exposed to it.
Complications of carbon monoxide poisoning Prolonged significant exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious complications, including brain damage and heart problems. In very severe cases, it can result in death. Brain damage Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can cause memory problems and difficulty concentrating. Heart disease Coronary heart disease is another serious condition that can develop as a result of long-term carbon monoxide exposure. When blood passes through the lungs , the iron atoms in the hemoglobin bind to oxygen atoms.
When the blood flows into areas of the body that are lacking in oxygen, the iron atoms release their oxygen. The difference in oxygen pressure in the lungs and in the parts of the body needing oxygen is very slight. The hemoglobin is very finely tuned to absorb and release oxygen at just the right times. Carbon monoxide , on the other hand, binds very strongly to the iron in hemoglobin. Once carbon monoxide attaches, it is very difficult to release.
So if you breath in carbon monoxide, it sticks to your hemoglobin and takes up all of the oxygen binding sites. Eventually, your blood loses all of its ability to transport oxygen, and you suffocate. Carbon monoxide poisoning. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Rochester, Minn. Clardy PF, et al. Toups GN expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 6, Toxic substances portal — Methylene chloride.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Accessed March 17, Palmer J, et al. For Patients and Visitors. Patient Information.
Conditions Treated A-Z. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning? Definition Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that causes thousands of deaths each year in North America.
Poisonous Ingredient Carbon monoxide is a chemical produced from the incomplete burning of natural gas or other products containing carbon. Where Found The following items may produce carbon monoxide: Anything that burns coal, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, or wood Automobile engines Charcoal grills charcoal should never be burned indoors Indoor and portable heating systems Portable propane heaters Stoves indoor and camp stoves Water heaters that use natural gas Note: This list may not be all-inclusive.
Symptoms When you breathe in carbon monoxide, the poison replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include: Breathing problems, including no breathing, shortness of breath, or rapid breathing Chest pain may occur suddenly in people with angina Coma Confusion Convulsions Dizziness Drowsiness Fainting Fatigue General weakness and achiness Headache Hyperactivity Impaired judgment Irritability Low blood pressure Muscle weakness Rapid or abnormal heartbeat Shock Nausea and vomiting Unconsciousness Animals can also be poisoned by carbon monoxide.
Home Care If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air. Before Calling Emergency The following information is helpful for emergency assistance: Person's age, weight, and condition for example, is the person awake or alert?
How long they may have been exposed to the carbon monoxide, if known However, DO NOT delay calling for help if this information is not immediately available. Poison Control Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States.
What to Expect at the Emergency Room The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. The person may receive: Airway support, including oxygen, breathing tube through the mouth intubation , and breathing machine ventilator Blood and urine tests Chest x-ray ECG electrocardiogram, or heart tracing Fluids through a vein intravenous or IV Hyperbaric oxygen therapy high-pressure oxygen given in a special chamber Medicines to treat symptoms Outlook Prognosis Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause death.
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