Carbon monoxide gas is defined as a non-irritant gas that has no color, odor or taste. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the bloodstream. When there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the air, the body exchanges the oxygen in the red blood cells for carbon monoxide. This can cause significant tissue damage and even death.
Carbon monoxide is produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuels. Improperly ventilated appliances and engines can lead to carbon monoxide accumulating at risky levels.
Many gases are free in nature and these gases are distributed in a balanced way in the atmosphere. As a result of this balance, living things breathe and continue their lives. But breathing too much of a certain gas causes poisoning. Carbon monoxide gas is released when a certain substance with carbon in its structure is burned or not completely burned.
It is also called the silent killer because it causes an important health problem in poisoning. In addition, devices that burn fuel also produce carbon monoxide. Long-term operation of vehicles in closed areas that do not get enough air also leads to the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the environment. Breathing this air can also lead to poisoning. In addition, inhaling the smoke that occurs during a fire causes carbon monoxide poisoning.
What are the Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
These poisonings cause a lot of inhalation of combustion fumes. When there is a lot of carbon monoxide in the breathing air, the red blood cells in the body change with carbon monoxide. This prevents oxygen from reaching the tissues and organs.
Fuel-burning appliances and engines produce carbon monoxide. This carbon monoxide production is generally not a cause for concern. However, when used in closed or partially closed air, carbon monoxide levels can reach risky levels. Inhaling smoke during a fire can also lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, nausea, weakness and flu-like conditions. Other poisonings may also cause fever, but typically carbon monoxide poisoning does not cause fever. The rate and duration of exposure to the gas plays a role in the rate of symptoms. However, this is not always the case. Mild exposure to carbon monoxide gas can cause the following symptoms;
A feeling of weakness, fatigue and tiredness,
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing in and out
- Nausea, vomiting
- Dizziness
In cases of severe poisoning, more important symptoms occur;
- Dizziness and difficulty moving
- Poor muscle coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Blurred vision or vision loss
- Difficulty with feces and urine retention
- Fainting and seizures
- Coma
- Respiratory arrest
Who is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
These poisonings can be especially risky for sleeping and drunk people. We can list other people at risk as follows;
- Traffic police officers
- Fire brigade workers
- Workers in closed garages
- Workers in paint cleaning
- Persons working in the heating boiler room
- Auto repair shops
These poisonings pose a greater danger to pregnant women, children under 2 years of age, the elderly, and people with respiratory and heart problems. Individuals can suffer irreversible brain damage and die before anyone realizes there is a problem. The signs of these poisonings can be subtle, it is an important life-threatening condition.
How is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Diagnosed?
An individual who is concerned about carbon monoxide poisoning should be taken to hospital without delay. Treatment should be started as soon as possible. A liquid blood sample may be requested to confirm the diagnosis.
The specialist may want to get some information about this poisoning. It may be useful to get information such as when the symptoms started, a mental problem such as memory problems, whether there is a loss of consciousness, pregnancy, smoking habits.
How to Treat Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
First aid is of great importance in poisoning. However, the individual who will provide first aid must first protect himself against poisoning. The environment where the sick person is located should be ventilated without delay and the person should be kept away from the environment. If breathing is not available, basic life support is provided. Pure oxygen is given to the person in the emergency room in the hospital. The purpose of giving oxygen is to reduce the rate of carbon monoxide bound to hemoglobin and to help transport oxygen to the tissues.
If the patient is unable to breathe, the patient is helped to breathe with the help of medical machines. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be applied to the person after respiration is restored. Especially damage to the brain and heart requires urgent intervention. If there is no permanent damage, but tissue and organ damage is severe, different methods can be used for supportive treatments.
The aim of the treatments is to minimize the damage and help the person regain their health. Pregnant women can receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for a longer period of time. Because the unborn baby may also be affected by poisoning. This can cause permanent damage to the baby.