As with many gas types, carbon monoxide gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless. Wood, gasoline, charcoal etc. occurs due to the combustion of substances such as Various poisonings may occur due to excessive accumulation of any substance in the bloodstream. Carbon monoxide poisoning is also caused by an increase in the amount of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream. This type of poisoning can cause various serious injuries or death. Exposure to too much carbon monoxide gas causes nausea and shortness of breath. When there is too much carbon monoxide gas in the environment, the human body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with carbon monoxide due to the inhaled gas. This can cause tissue damage or loss.
What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
Many gases exist in free form in nature and these gases are dispersed in a balanced ratio in the atmosphere. Thanks to this balance, living things breathe and continue their lives. However, excessive inhalation of any gas leads to poisoning. Because the amount of gas in the blood forms the basis of human life. Carbon monoxide gas is released due to the combustion or incomplete combustion of any substance containing carbon in its structure. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless, odorless gas that is not dangerous in everyday situations. In addition, it is not possible to be noticed due to the absence of irritating properties. It is also called the silent killer because it causes serious health problems in cases of poisoning. In addition, fuel-burning devices also produce carbon monoxide. The amount of carbon monoxide produced by these sources is generally insignificant. However, in confined or poorly ventilated areas, dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can occur. Operating vehicles for a long time in poorly ventilated car parks also causes carbon monoxide to accumulate in the environment. Breathing this air can also cause poisoning. In addition, inhaling the smoke produced during a fire causes carbon monoxide poisoning.
How Does Carbon Monoxide (co) Poisoning Occur?
Inhaled air primarily reaches the lungs in the human body. Since carbon monoxide enters the body during respiration, it primarily passes to the lungs. From here, it enters the blood through the lungs. it breaks. There are substances in the blood called hemoglobin, which are located in the blood cells and are responsible for carrying oxygen to the tissues. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin approximately 200 times faster than oxygen. As a result of this binding and association, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is formed. As the bonding continues, the amount of oxygen in the body decreases and oxygen cannot be transported to the tissues. Oxygen continues to be replaced by carbon monoxide over time. Since oxygen cannot be transported to the tissues and organs, the brain, heart and other organs become inoperable over time. This situation causes diseases depending on the amount of poisoning, and death in severe poisonings. The most important way to prevent poisoning is to adequately ventilate the environments with carbon monoxide sources. Otherwise, the emergence of health problems will be inevitable.
What are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
The most basic and common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, nausea, fatigue and flu-like conditions. Many other poisonings also have a fever, but typically carbon monoxide poisonings do not. The amount of exposure to the gas and the duration of exposure play an effective role in the level of symptoms. However, this is the general opinion and it should be known that this is not always the case. When exposed to mild levels of carbon monoxide gas, the following symptoms occur:
- Weakness, fatigue and feeling of tiredness,
- Headache,
- Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath,
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Dizziness and lightheadedness.
- Vomiting due to dizziness and nausea,
- Drowsiness and difficulty moving,
- Weakening or loss of muscle coordination,
- Loss of consciousness.
- Fatigue, restlessness and cold state,
- Severe and persistent headache,
- Dizziness accompanying the headache,
- Forgetfulness,
- Nausea followed by vomiting,
- Abdominal pain,
- Chest pain with palpitation,
- Exhaustion, lethargy and sleepiness,
- Confusion,
- Attention deficit,
- Mood swings and depression,
- Reluctance to move,
- Rarely hallucinations,
- Restlessness and tension
- Weakness and even loss of vision,
- Difficulty with urination and stool retention,
- Seizures and fainting,
- Coma,
- Difficulty breathing and death as a result.
- Continuous and severe headache,
- Weakness, nausea and vomiting,
- Severe abdominal pains,
- Weakening and loss of cognitive functions,
- Numbness and stupor,
- Restlessness, forgetfulness and blackouts,
- Personality disorders and changes,
- Balance disorders.
How to Treat Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
First aid is very important in poisoning. However, the person who will administer the first aid should firstly protect himself against poisoning. The environment where the patient is located should be ventilated without losing time, and the patient should be removed from the environment. If breathing has stopped, basic life support should be applied. In the emergency room of the hospital, pure oxygen is given to the patient. The purpose of oxygen delivery is to reduce the amount of carbon monoxide bound to hemoglobin and to provide oxygen transport to the tissues. If the patient is unable to breathe, the patient's breathing is provided with the help of medical machines. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be applied to the patient after breathing is provided. This treatment involves exposing the patient to oxygen in a room where the air pressure is two or three times higher than normal. As the patient continues to breathe, the amount of carbon monoxide in the blood decreases and the amount of oxygen decreases. increases. Oxygen therapy is applied to patients regardless of whether they are severe or mild poisoning. The treatment can be terminated when the amount of oxygen in the blood is balanced. However, in advanced poisoning, organs and tissues may be damaged. In particular, damage to the brain and heart requires urgent intervention. When necessary, oxygen therapies can be spread over long periods to protect the brain and heart or to heal more quickly. Thus, the organs heal faster. If there is no permanent damage, but tissue and organ damage is advanced, different methods can be applied for supportive treatments. The aim of the treatment is to minimize the damage and to ensure that the patient regains his health. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is administered for a longer period of time to pregnant women. Because there is a high probability that the unborn baby may also be affected by the poisoning. This can cause permanent damage to the baby. To prevent this, oxygen treatments continue for a long time. However, the most effective method to prevent all these is to stay away from environments where carbon monoxide gas can be exposed. Thus, poisonings can be prevented.
If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning or if you are regularly exposed to carbon monoxide gas, you should be examined as soon as possible. Thus, by looking at the blood values, it can be determined whether there is poisoning and you can continue your life in a healthy way without a serious situation.
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