How-To Evaluate Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Symptoms?

How-To Evaluate Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning Symptoms?

Posted on 05. Mar, 2011 by in Indoor Air Quality

What are carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms?

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms from one time exposure (acute CO poisoning) can range from not feeling any symptoms at all to feeling major symptoms (but not knowing what’s causing them) to death in minutes. These symptoms depend on the level of CO in the air, how long it is breathed, and a person’s level of activity.

Carbon monoxide reacts with hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells and forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). This is expressed as a percentage of red blood cells carrying carbon monoxide.

0-10% Generally does not cause symptoms but can cause some loss of coordination, tiredness, dizziness, and difficulty focusing in sensitive people
10-20% Mild frontal headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of coordination, difficulty focusing
20-30% Headache, rapid heartbeat, confusion, lethargy, visual disturbances All levels of exposure from this forward may lead to death as the victim loses motivation and ability to leave the danger zone (even in a fire)
30-40% Collapse
40-50% Seizures
50- 60% Coma
60-70% Death in under 2 hours
80-90% Death in under 1 hour
90-100% Death in minutes

Low level carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

  • Flu like symptoms
  • Food poisoning like symptoms
  • Headache
  • Brain fog and difficulty thinking
  • Problems focusing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Feeling of tightness across forehead
  • Throbbing in temples
  • Unexplained panic, anxiety, or sense of dread
  • Irritability/mood swings
  • Mild nausea
  • Unexplained claustrophobia
  • Unexplained sense that there is a presence or something is watching (many “ghost houses” have been found to have had carbon monoxide leaks)

Moderate Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms

  • Strong headache sometimes described as different than a migraine, tension, or dehydration headache)
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Disorientation/confusion
  • Hallucinations
  • Increased rate of breathing

High Level Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms

  • Vomiting
  • Abnormal heart beat
  • Convulsions/seizures
  • Lower body temperature
  • Shouting and incoherent behavior

Extreme Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Symptoms

  • Collapse
  • Seriously low blood pressure
  • Heart and respiratory failure
  • Unconsciousness
  • Coma
  • Death

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms Source:  www.carbon-monoxide-survivor.com

Related posts:

  1. How To Place Your Carbon Monoxide Detector
  2. CBS Early Show: Carbon Monoxide Prevention

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