Carbon monoxide

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When you breathe in carbon monoxide, the poison replaces the oxygen in your bloodstream. Your heart, brain, and body will become starved of oxygen.

Symptoms vary from person to person. Those at high risk include young children, the elderly, persons with lung or heart disease, people at high altitudes, and smokers. Carbon monoxide can harm a fetus (unborn baby still in the womb).

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include:

• Breathing problems, including no breathing, shortness of breath, or rapid breathing
• Chest pain (may occur suddenly in people with angina)
• Coma
• Confusion
• Convulsions
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Fainting
• Headache
• Hyperactivity
• Impaired judgment
• Irritability
• Low blood pressure
• Muscle weakness
• Rapid or abnormal heart beat
• Shock
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unconsciousness

Review Date: 01/17/2007
Reviewed By: Eric Perez, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.