I need information about carbon monoxide poisoning

Thanks Aisha for your question and kind words. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the bloodstream. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air, the body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage, or even death.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel. Improperly ventilated appliances and engines, particularly in a tightly sealed or enclosed space, may allow carbon monoxide to accumulate to dangerous levels. What are the symptoms? • Dull headache • Weakness and dizziness • Nausea or vomiting • Shortness of breath • Confusion and blurred vision • Loss of consciousness Carbon monoxide poisoning can be particularly dangerous for people who are sleeping or intoxicated. People may have irreversible brain damage or even die before anyone realizes there is a problem.

What are the causes?

• Carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by inhaling combustion fumes. When too much carbon monoxide is in the air the body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with carbon monoxide. This prevents oxygen from reaching tissues and organs.

• Various fuel-burning appliances and engines produce carbon monoxide. The amount of carbon monoxide produced by these sources usually isn’t cause for concern. But if they’re used in a closed or partially closed space cooking with a charcoal grill indoors, for example the carbon monoxide can build to dangerous levels.

• Smoke inhalation a fire also can cause monoxide poisoning. during carbon

What are the risk factors?

Exposure to carbon monoxide may be particularly dangerous for:

• Unborn babies. Fetal blood cells take up carbon monoxide more readily than adult blood cells. This makes unborn babies more susceptible to harm from carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Children. Young children take breaths more frequently than adults, which may make them more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Older adults. Older people who experience carbon monoxide poisoning may be more likely to develop brain damage.

• People who have chronic heart disease. People with a history of anemia and breathing problems also are more likely to get sick from exposure to carbon monoxide.

• Those in whom carbon monoxide poisoning leads to unconsciousness. Loss of consciousness indicates more severe exposure.

Examples of complications

• Depending on the degree and length of exposure, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause: • Permanent brain damage • Damage to heart, possibly leading to life-threatening cardiac complications • Fetal death or miscarriage What are the preventive measures? • Install carbon monoxide detectors in hallways and near each sleeping area.

• Open the starting a car.

• Use gas recommended.

• Keep fuel-burning appliances and engines properly vented. How to diagnose it? If one is brought to an emergency room with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, treatment begins immediately. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may test a sample of blood for carbon monoxide. What are the treatment options? • Breathing pure oxygen. In the emergency room, one may breathe pure oxygen through a mask placed over nose and mouth. This helps oxygen reach organs and tissues. If one can’t breathe a machine (ventilator) may do the breathing.

• Spending time in a pressurized oxygen chamber. In many cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is recommended. This therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a chamber in which the air pressure is about two to three times higher than normal. This speeds the replacement of carbon monoxide with oxygen in your blood garage door before appliances as