Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning: 10 symptoms and who is at risk
Headache
One of the first signs of carbon monoxide poisoning is a headache, which appears between six to eight hours after being constantly exposed to a carbon monoxide leak (at a concentration of 35 ppm). The risk of this condition becoming more serious increases considerably after eight hours, during which time other symptoms begin to appear that can put people at risk.
Nausea
If you are a healthy person and you have a headache and nausea that appear progressively or suddenly, especially during the winter, it’s a good idea to rule out a carbon monoxide leak in your home. One of the signs to look for is an odor similar to that of food cooking. In some cases, it is possible to visibly observe this type of leak in places such as the chimney.
Fatigue
One of the greatest dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning is that it occurs during the night when people are sound asleep. This prevents victims of carbon monoxide poisoning from being able to detect the leak and take preventative action. If you feel unusually fatigued or feel sleepy at odd hours, consider getting out of the house and checking that your levels are adequate.
Chest pain is a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning
Chest pain and shortness of breath are two signs of carbon monoxide poisoning that you cannot ignore, especially if they are accompanied by a headache, nausea and a feeling of fatigue. This may be because carbon monoxide causes damage to the heart, resulting in a decreased ability to pump blood, which could cause permanent damage if you survive.
Confusion
For many people, prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide results in a state of confusion caused by impairments to sight, hearing and memory. Among the most severe effects of intoxication of this type — before loss of consciousness —are blurred vision, hearing loss and difficulty concentrating.
Loss of consciousness
When there is an excessive concentration of carbon monoxide, loss of consciousness can occur as soon as the person breathes it in, leading to death in less than three minutes. Loss of consciousness is one of the most serious symptoms in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. Incapacitated people are at very high risk for death.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are one of the most severe symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, as some patients have reported having erratic behavior before detecting a leak in their homes. When poisoning occurs, the brain stops receiving the same amount of oxygen, this can lead to visual and auditory hallucinations that are sometimes reported as «paranormal» experiences by the victims.
Heart palpitations
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause permanent damage to people’s health, especially when it comes to your heart. This is because prolonged exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide results in ischemia, arrhythmias, low heart rate and even syncope that in some cases lead to seizures.
Cold symptoms
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be sudden or accumulate according to the concentration of this gas. For this reason, many people confuse the symptoms with those of a mild cold. Symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, congestion, vision disturbances, shortness of breath, and headache can be mistaken for a cold and cause permanent damage, or even death.
Stomach ache
Along with the symptoms we have mentioned, it is recommended to remain alert in case of sudden stomach pain, nausea or vomiting without an apparent cause. In all cases, it’s ideal to check your carbon monoxide detector. If you aren’t sure, open doors and windows until you can confirm the air inside is safe to breathe.
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