Description

Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the blood. When the excess of carbon monoxide in the air, the carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells. This can lead to serious tissue damage, or even death.

Carbon monoxide is a gas that has no odor, taste or color. This is the burning of fuels, including gasoline, wood, propane or charcoal. Appliances and engines that are not well ventilated can cause carbon monoxide to build up to dangerous levels. A tightly closed space makes the buildup worse.

Any person exposed to the carbon monoxide must enter the fresh air and seek medical attention immediately. Call 911 or emergency medical services immediately to someone who is not aware or can't respond.

Symptoms

Carbon monoxide poisoning affects the brain and the heart of the majority. Exposure over time can lead to symptoms that can be mistaken for the flu without a fever. More clear of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include:

  • The pain of a headache.
  • The weakness.
  • The dizziness.
  • Nausea or vomiting.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Confusion.
  • Blurred vision.
  • The drowsiness.
  • The loss of muscle control.
  • The loss of consciousness.

Symptoms related to the nervous system and the brain can come after the recovery of the carbon monoxide poisoning. The risk of this is higher in older people and to the people who lost their conscience of the inhalation of carbon monoxide. Symptoms may include:

  • The loss of memory.
  • Changes in personality.
  • The movement problems.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous for people who are asleep or have used illicit drugs, alcohol or medicines that make them very sleepy. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage or death before anyone realizes that there is a problem.

When to see a doctor

For a possible carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air and seek medical attention immediately.

Causes

Many of burning fuel and products of engines make carbon monoxide. In areas with good air circulation, the amount of carbon monoxide from these sources most of the time there is cause for concern. But if used in a part-closed or closed space, the level of carbon monoxide can be a danger. Examples are the use of a charcoal grill indoors, or out of a car in motion in the interior of a garage.

Breathing in the smoke of the causes of carbon monoxide to replace the oxygen in the blood. This prevents oxygen from reaching tissues and organs.

Inhaling smoke during a fire can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. And the habit of smoking through a water pipe called a hookah, it has been linked to a growing number of young people obtaining of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Risk factors

Breathing carbon monoxide can be especially dangerous:

  • The unborn babies, also called fetuses. Fetal red blood cells take up carbon monoxide more readily than adults of the blood to the cells.
  • Infants and children. Young children take breaths more often than adults.
  • Older adults. Older people who have carbon monoxide poisoning may be more likely to get brain damage.

Complications

The damage of carbon monoxide depends on how much you breathe and for how long. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause:

  • The brain injury that does not heal.
  • Damage to the heart, possibly leading to life-threatening heart problems.
  • Death.

Prevention

To help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

  • Place carbon monoxide detectors in the home.Put them near each sleeping area on every level of the home. Check the batteries at least twice a year, at the same time that the test smoke detector batteries. If the alarm sounds, I think! Get out of the house and call 911 or emergency medical help. Carbon monoxide detectors are also made for motor homes and boats.
  • Open the garage door before starting the car. Never leave a car running in the garage, especially if the garage is attached to the house. This is true even if the garage door is open.
  • The use of gas appliances only as intended. Never use a gas stove or oven to heat. The use of gas stoves camping outdoor use only. The use of fuel-burning heaters only when someone is awake to see them, and when the doors or windows are open. Do not run a generator in an enclosed space, such as a basement or in the garage.
  • Make sure that there is space around the combustion appliances and motors.These include all the gas appliances, heaters, and wood stoves. Make sure that it is adequate ventilation. Having professionals to set up everything from gas, oil, or coal burning appliances. Have a professional service technician, annual verification.
  • Keep your fireplaces in good condition. Clean the chimney of the fireplace and chimney of each year.
  • Do not obstruct the ventilation vents and chimneys during the remodeling. Verify that you are not covered by tarps or debris.
  • Make repairs before returning to where the poisoning occurred. If the carbon monoxide poisoning has occurred in the house, find and repair the source of the leak of carbon monoxide before staying there again. Have a professional service technician check and repair the appliances that could have caused the leak.

Place carbon monoxide detectors in the home. Put them near each sleeping area on every level of the home. Check the batteries at least twice a year, at the same time that the test smoke detector batteries.

If the alarm sounds, I think! Get out of the house and call 911 or emergency medical help. Carbon monoxide detectors are also made for motor homes and boats.

Make sure that there is space around the combustion appliances and motors. These include all the gas appliances, heaters, and wood stoves. Make sure that it is adequate ventilation.

Having professionals to set up everything from gas, oil, or coal burning appliances. Have a professional service technician, annual verification.

Diagnosis

It is likely that the treatment will start immediately for any person who is brought to the emergency room with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. To confirm the diagnosis, the health care team can do the test with a sample of blood for carbon monoxide. This test should be performed as soon as possible after the removal of the person from the suspicion of exposure to the environment. But the test should not delay the treatment.

Treatment

Get into the fresh air immediately. Call 911 or emergency medical help if you or someone that you have symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. These include headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, weakness, and confusion.

In the hospital, treatment may include:

  • The breathing of pure oxygen. In the emergency room, the standard treatment consists of breathing in pure oxygen through a mask placed over the nose and mouth. This helps the oxygen to reach tissues and organs. The people who can't breathe on their own can be put in a machine that breathes for them, called a fan.
  • Receive treatment in an oxygen chamber.This is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. That consists of breathing pure oxygen in a chamber for a fixed amount of time. The air pressure inside the chamber is 2 to 3 times higher than the outside pressure. This helps to replace carbon monoxide with oxygen in the blood. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used for severe cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. Helps to protect the heart and the brain tissue of carbon monoxide damage. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, can also be used for pregnant people to protect babies against damage from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Receive treatment in an oxygen chamber. This is called hyperbaric oxygen therapy. That consists of breathing pure oxygen in a chamber for a fixed amount of time. The air pressure inside the chamber is 2 to 3 times higher than the outside pressure. This helps to replace carbon monoxide with oxygen in the blood.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be used for severe cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. Helps to protect the heart and the brain tissue of carbon monoxide damage. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, can also be used for pregnant people to protect babies against damage from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Preparing for your appointment

If you or someone you are with symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, get fresh air immediately and call 911 or emergency medical help. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, weakness, and confusion.

The health care team at the hospital will likely need information as soon as you arrive. On the way to the hospital, try to prepare answers to the questions about:

  • Possible sources of carbon monoxide.
  • The symptoms and when they started.
  • Mental concerns, such as confusion and memory problems.
  • The loss of consciousness.
  • Other medical conditions, including pregnancy.
  • The habit of smoking.
Symptoms and treatment of Carbon monoxide poisoning