What Does Carbon Monoxide Do to the Body

Definition

Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that causes thousands of deaths each year in Northward America. Breathing in carbon monoxide is very dangerous. It is the leading cause of poisoning death in the United States.

This article is for information merely. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual poison exposure. If you or someone you are with has an exposure, telephone call your local emergency number (such equally 911), or your local poison control center can be reached straight by calling the national toll-costless Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States.

Poisonous Ingredient

Carbon monoxide is a chemical produced from the incomplete burning of natural gas or other products containing carbon. This includes exhaust, faulty heaters, fires, and manufactory emissions.

Where Found

The post-obit 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)
• H2o heaters that utilise natural gas

Notation: This list may not be spread-out.

Symptoms

When you lot breathe in carbon monoxide, the poisonous substance replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream. Your eye, brain, and body will become starved of oxygen.

Symptoms vary from person to person. Those at high risk include immature children, older adults, people with lung or heart disease, people who are at high altitudes, and smokers. Carbon monoxide can harm a fetus (unborn baby nevertheless in the womb).

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

• Breathing issues, including no breathing, shortness of jiff, or rapid breathing
• Chest pain (may occur suddenly in people with angina)
• Blackout
• Defoliation
• Convulsions
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• General weakness and achiness
• Headache
• Hyperactivity
• Impaired judgment
• Irritability
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Rapid or abnormal heartbeat
• Stupor
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unconsciousness

Animals tin likewise be poisoned past carbon monoxide. People who have pets at home may find that their animals become weak or unresponsive from carbon monoxide exposure. Often the pets will get ill earlier humans.

Since many of these symptoms can occur with viral illnesses, carbon monoxide poisoning is often confused with these conditions. This can pb to a delay in getting help.

Home Care

If the person breathed in the poisonous substance, immediately motility him or her to fresh air. Seek immediate medical correct abroad.

PREVENTION

Install a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your home. Place an additional detector near whatsoever major gas-burning appliances (such every bit a furnace or h2o heater).

Many carbon monoxide poisonings occur in the winter months when furnaces, gas fireplaces, and portable heaters are being used and windows are closed. Have heaters and gas-burning appliances regularly inspected to make sure they are condom to employ.

Before Calling Emergency

The following information is helpful for emergency assistance:

• Person'due south age, weight, and condition (for case, is the person awake or alert?)
• How long they may accept been exposed to the carbon monoxide, if known

All the same, Practice Not delay calling for help if this data is non immediately bachelor.

Poison Command

Your local toxicant control heart can exist reached directly by calling the national price-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the U.s.a.. They will give you lot farther instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local toxicant control centers in the United States utilize this national number. You lot should call if you have whatsoever questions about poisoning or poison prevention. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What to Expect at the Emergency Room

The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, animate charge per unit, and blood pressure. The person may receive:

• Airway back up, including oxygen, breathing tube through the rima oris (intubation), and breathing motorcar (ventilator)
• Blood and urine tests
• Chest x-ray
• ECG (electrocardiogram, or center 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 crusade death. For those who survive, recovery is slow. How well a person does depends on the amount and length of exposure to the carbon monoxide. Permanent brain impairment may occur.

If the person still has impaired mental ability after 2 weeks, the risk of a complete recovery is worse. Impaired mental power can reappear after a person has been symptom-free for 1 to 2 weeks.

References

Bluth MH, Pincus MR, Abraham NZ. Toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 24.

Christiani DC. Physical and chemical injuries of the lung. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 88.

Nelson LS, Hoffman RS. Inhaled toxins. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Colina M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. ninth ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 153.

Version Info

• Last reviewed on 2/12/2021
• Jesse Borke, Physician, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attention Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial squad.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, likewise known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Committee (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation programme is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.Yard. is amidst the first to achieve this of import distinction for online health information and services. Acquire more about A.D.A.Yard.'southward editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding fellow member of Hullo-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Internet Foundation (world wide web.hon.ch).

The data provided herein should not be used during whatever medical emergency or for the diagnosis or handling of any medical status. A licensed doc should be consulted for diagnosis and handling of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information but -- they do not institute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.Chiliad., Inc. Whatever duplication or distribution of the information independent herein is strictly prohibited.

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Source: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/carbon-monoxide-poisoning

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