About this topic
Carbon monoxide is a gas. It is also called CO. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. Burning fuel and car engines give off carbon monoxide. You have carbon monoxide poisoning if you breathe in too much of this gas. This can be life-threatening. ‚
What are the causes?
When you breathe in the CO gas, it replaces oxygen in your blood. Then, the tissues in your body are not able to get enough oxygen. This can damage the tissues. You can get CO poisoning from breathing in too much smoke during a fire. It is often caused if the gas builds up in an enclosed space where there is poor air flow. The gas may come from: ‚
- Too much carbon monoxide in an enclosed space with poor air flow from:
- Car and truck exhaust fumes
- Gas engines
- Stoves and gas ranges
- Wood burning stoves
- Lanterns
- Heating systems or furnaces
- Water heaters
- Chemical or gas space heaters
- Portable generators
- Burning wood or charcoal
What can make this more likely to happen?
Young children and older people are at a higher risk of the effects of CO. Your risk is also greater if you have heart or breathing problems. If you have low red blood cells your risk for effects is higher. CO poisoning happens more often in the cold months. It is also more common if there is no working carbon monoxide detector in the house. It also happens more often if you work at a job where you are around burning fuel or furnaces and there is poor air flow. ‚
What are the main signs?
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Throwing up and belly pain
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Being tired and confused
If you continue to breathe the CO, your signs will get worse. You may have: ‚
- Muscle problems like weakness and trouble walking
- Chest pain
- Very short of breath and have a very fast heart rate
- Memory problems and more confusion
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness and become not alert. If the levels are very high, death may happen.
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will do an exam and check for any signs that could mean damage to the brain, heart, and other tissues. The doctor will take a blood sample to test for CO levels. ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- Oxygen through a mask
- Ventilator if you are not able to breathe on your own
- Hyperbaric oxygen chamber ¢ ˆ ’ Full body pressurized chamber to help get more oxygen into the blood
Are there other health problems to treat?
If CO causes brain or heart damage, these problems will need to be treated. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help your heart work better
- Control seizures
What problems could happen?
- Long-lasting brain damage
- Heart damage
- Damage to other tissues such as the kidneys
- Death
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Have a CO detector by the sleeping areas in your home. Check that it is working twice a year. Many people do this when changing the clocks in the spring and fall.
- Make sure your appliances are safe.
- Make sure that gas appliances are vented. Have an expert fix or install any vent pipes. Do not attempt to patch pipes yourself. Vent pipes that run side to side should always be angled up slightly. They should not be level to the floor.
- Have an expert come to the home every year to check your heating systems. They should also check water heaters, gas appliances, and fireplaces.
- Heat your home safely.
- Do not use portable chemical heaters indoors. Never use your gas range or oven for heating your home.
- Never use charcoal, outdoor grills, or portable gas camp heaters indoors.
- Make sure all fireplaces and stoves are vented. Have your fireplaces cleaned and checked every year. Make sure there are no blocks and the air flows freely.
- Do not use generators indoors.
- Take extra care with cars and trucks.
- Have the exhaust system checked each year.
- Never leave a car running inside a garage with the garage door closed. Open your garage door before starting your engine.
- If your tailgate is open on your truck, open vents or windows. If only the tailgate is open, exhaust can be pulled into the car.
Helpful tips
If you are having problems, such as ongoing flu-like signs and especially if another person in your household is also having the same signs, tell your doctor right away. Sometimes, ongoing CO poisoning can look like the flu. ‚
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm ‚
Federal Emergency Management Association ‚
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/co/fswy17.shtm ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚