Carbon monoxide poisoning is can be a deadly condition. It results from inhaling carbon monoxide gas (CO). CO is produced when gas, wood, charcoal, or other fuel is burned. It often builds up when fuel-burning heating and cooking devices are faulty or not properly vented. CO is odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas. People can inhale it without knowing.
Inhaling CO gas causes carbon monoxide poisoning.
People can be exposed to the gas when fuel-burning appliances are broken or are not vented properly. For instance:
Once the gas is inhaled, it is easily absorbed through the lungs. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood to the entire body. CO binds tightly with hemoglobin and takes the place of the oxygen. Tissue becomes starved for life-sustaining oxygen. Brain tissue is very much at risk.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
Smoking does not cause acute carbon monoxide poisoning. However, burning tobacco makes a large amount of CO. Therefore, smokers are constantly exposed to high levels of the poisonous gas.
Symptoms related to carbon monoxide poisoning are usually vague. They could be split into acute and chronic symptoms.
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. You will be asked questions about:
Tests may include:
Move away from the source of the carbon monoxide. Breathe fresh air outdoors. Mild symptoms usually start to resolve after getting away from the gas.
Seek medical care at the closest emergency room. Explain that you think you may have been exposed to carbon monoxide. The doctor may give you oxygen until your symptoms go away and CO levels in your blood drop.
Other therapies may include:
Avoiding exposure to CO is the key to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning. Because the gas has no odor or color, you will not know if it is present. The following suggestions can reduce your risk of exposure:
RESOURCES:
US Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov/
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
http://www.cpsc.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/
References:
Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. WB Saunders Company; 2000.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/ .
Conn's Current Therapy 2001 . 53rd ed. WB Saunders Company; 2001.
Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice . 4th ed. Mosby-Year Book, Inc.; 1998.
Environmental Protection Agency website. Available at: http://www.epa.gov .
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2000.
Juurlink DN, Stanbrook MB, McGuigan MA. Hyperbaric oxygen for carbon monoxide poisoning. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . 2005; 1.
Weaver LK, Hopkins RO, Chan KJ, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen for acute carbon monoxide poisoning. N Engl J Med . 2002; 347:1057-67.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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