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CARBON MONOXIDE

© Kathleen Newton

Happy Holidays to you all! If you're looking forward to a white Christmas, I envy you. I really miss snow and all its related fun. My parents in Wisconsin tell me they have cold temperatures and a few inches of beautiful white snow. My weather report, from here in Southern California, is always the same: warm and sunny. However, the nights are chilly, and our furnace usually runs at least once during the night. With the onset of cold weather (or, at least, COOLER weather) and its accompanying increase in use of furnaces and other fuel-burning appliances (such as fireplaces and space heaters) comes an increased risk of exposure to carbon monoxide.

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas produced when any fuel, such as gas or wood, is burned. Fuel-burning appliances that are used and maintained properly usually emit a harmless amount of CO. However, incorrect use or malfunction of fuel-burning appliances can result in dangerous, often fatal, levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is unknowingly inhaled into the lungs and enters the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, CO attaches itself to HEMOGLOBIN, creating CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN (COHb). Hemoglobin normally carries oxygen throughout our bodies, but carbon dioxide is accepted by hemoglobin up to 200 times more readily than oxygen. With CO taking the place of oxygen in the bloodstream, the body's vital organs and cells are deprived of the oxygen they need for survival.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

10% COHb (meaning 10% of the hemoglobin in our bloodstream is carrying carbon monoxide instead of oxygen) -Usually no symptoms. Heavy smokers may have up to 10% COHb from exposure to CO found in cigarettes.

10-15% COHb -At these levels, a mild headache is usually present. Mild shortness of breath and nausea may also be present. Symptoms at this level are often mistaken for other illnesses, such as a cold or flu.

15-30% COHb -The victim(s) may feel drowsy and/or dizzy, and mental confusion is common at these levels. Nausea increases and is often accompanied by vomiting, and headache becomes severe. The potential for irreversible organ and cell damage grows as COHb levels increase, especially in the elderly, young and unborn children and infants, and those with cardiac (heart) and respiratory (lung) problems.

30-50% COHb -As COHb levels increase, symptoms become very severe. The victim(s) will probably lose consciousness as levels near 50%.

>50% COHb -Death is likely. It's important to remember that long-term exposure to moderate, or even low levels of carbon monoxide can cause long-term health problems. If you or your family experience chronic flu-like symptoms, see your doctor.

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