loss of consciousness – in cases where there are very high levels of carbon monoxide, death may occur within minutesĬarbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood do not burn fully.īurning charcoal, running cars and the smoke from cigarettes also produce carbon monoxide gas.an uncontrollable burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes muscle spasms (seizures).chest pain caused by angina or a heart attack.breathlessness and a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute (tachycardia).loss of physical co-ordination caused by underlying damage to the brain and nervous system ( ataxia).the feeling that you or the environment around you is spinning ( vertigo).impaired mental state and personality changes (intoxication).frequent emotional changes – for example, becoming easily irritated, depressed, or making impulsive or irrational decisionsīreathing in high levels of carbon monoxide gas can cause more severe symptoms.Long-term exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can also lead to neurological symptoms, such as: This can happen within 2 hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. You may lose balance, vision and memory and, eventually, you may lose consciousness. The longer you inhale the gas, the worse your symptoms will be.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING PROFESSIONAL
If this is the case, you should investigate the possibility of a carbon monoxide leak and ask a suitably qualified professional to check any appliances you think may be faulty and leaking gas. Your symptoms may be less severe when you're away from the source of the carbon monoxide. The symptoms can gradually get worse with prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide, leading to a delay in diagnosis. The symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be similar to those of food poisoning and flu.īut unlike flu, carbon monoxide poisoning does not cause a high temperature. shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are not always obvious, particularly during low-level exposure.Ī tension-type headache is the most common symptom of mild carbon monoxide poisoning. When this happens, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen, and this lack of oxygen causes the body's cells and tissue to fail and die. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you're exposed to high levels.Įvery year there are around 60 deaths from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales.Īfter carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body) to form carboxyhaemoglobin. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste.
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