What are the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Early warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
Moderate exposure to carbon monoxide can cause the following symptoms:
If you notice any warning signs or symptoms, go outside immediately and contact 911 or your local emergency services number. Don’t stay indoors to call for help. If you’re unable to get outdoors safely, open a window or door and stay by the open window or door while calling for help.
Can you have delayed symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
At low levels, carbon monoxide fumes may cause symptoms that don’t take an immediate effect on your body. These fumes are still toxic and can cause serious harm to your body the longer you breathe them in. Contact emergency services if you suspect you have exposure to carbon monoxide.
What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
Inhaling carbon monoxide fumes causes carbon monoxide poisoning. When inside your lungs, carbon monoxide can prevent oxygen from reaching your bloodstream.
Many appliances and vehicles burn fuel and emit (release) carbon monoxide. When people use and maintain these appliances correctly, the CO levels usually aren’t harmful. CO poisoning happens when fuel-burning appliances run without proper ventilation. For example, it can be dangerous if you:
- Let your car or truck idle in an enclosed space, like a garage.
- Have a vehicle with a blocked exhaust system, such as by snow in the tailpipe.
- Use a kerosene heater or gas barbecue grill indoors.
What happens to your body during carbon monoxide poisoning?
Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Your organs need oxygen to function. But red blood cells take in carbon monoxide faster than oxygen. High levels of carbon monoxide exposure cause CO to crowd out oxygen in your bloodstream.
If you breathe too much CO, organs such as your brain and heart don’t get enough oxygen. CO can also combine with proteins in your body and damage your cells and organs. If you inhale a lot of CO, you can lose consciousness (pass out) and suffocate within minutes.
What are the risk factors for carbon monoxide poisoning?
Everyone is at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. In the winter, risks are higher because of frequently used heating systems. Those who are at the highest risk of CO poisoning at low doses of exposure include:
- Developing fetuses.
- Infants.
- Adults over age 65.
- People living at high altitudes.
- People with chronic heart disease, anemia or respiratory (breathing) issues.
- People who smoke tobacco products.
People who have a small body size, as well as pets and animals, may see the effects of CO poisoning sooner. Pets are usually the first in a household to show symptoms.
You may be more at risk of CO poisoning if you work in an environment where there are combustion engines or fires. Harmful CO levels exist in places such as boiler rooms, warehouses or petroleum refineries. The following careers may put you more at risk of CO poisoning:
- Firefighters.
- Mechanics.
- Drivers.
- Welders.
What are the complications of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Carbon monoxide poisoning is life-threatening. After only a few minutes of exposure, it can be deadly. If you catch CO poisoning in time, treatment can reverse the effects. You may experience lingering complications to your health after CO poisoning like:
In addition, carbon monoxide poisoning can affect a pregnant person and lead to miscarriage or abnormal fetal development.
How is carbon monoxide poisoning treated?
Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning is breathing in pure oxygen. A healthcare provider will give you an oxygen mask to breathe through. This will offset the carbon monoxide buildup in your body.
If you suspect you have carbon monoxide exposure or poisoning, call 911 or your local emergency services number and go outdoors immediately to wait for help. If it’s unsafe for you to go outdoors, open a door or window and stay close to it so you breathe in fresh air rather than carbon monoxide fumes.
Can I treat carbon monoxide poisoning at home?
You shouldn’t try to treat carbon monoxide poisoning on your own at home. If you think you had carbon monoxide exposure or poisoning, contact emergency services immediately. A healthcare provider can monitor your body’s oxygen levels to make sure you don’t have any long-term complications caused by exposure to the fumes.
If you have carbon monoxide in your home, go outside to get fresh air immediately. Don’t reenter your home until local emergency services tell you it’s safe to do so. There still may be CO fumes in your home. A qualified professional can check your appliances to make sure your home has proper ventilation and that all appliances are working safely, as intended. Install a carbon monoxide detector so it can alert you if you have a CO leak.
How long does carbon monoxide poisoning last?
For mild carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms, you may notice they go away or reduce shortly after moving into an area with fresh air or breathing in pure oxygen through a mask. It could take up to 24 hours for CO to leave your body, so your symptoms may persist during this time. You may also experience lingering symptoms for up to two weeks after exposure to CO.
How is carbon monoxide poisoning diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will diagnose carbon monoxide poisoning after exposure by performing a blood test. They’ll remove a small sample of your blood and test it for CO. In addition, they may check your heart rate and oxygen levels through a finger oximeter. This device goes over your fingertip to take a reading.
Your provider will learn more about your health by taking a complete medical history. They’ll also ask you about your exposure to CO, like the length of time and location where you had exposure. These questions can help them understand how much CO possibly entered your body.
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