What are the six signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
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What is the first thing to do if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning?

Get into fresh air immediately and call 911 or emergency medical help if you or someone you're with develops signs or symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. These include headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, weakness and confusion.
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Can you have carbon monoxide poisoning and not know?

Because it is imperceptible to the human senses, it is virtually impossible to tell if you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning until you begin showing symptoms, and unfortunately, many individuals aren't even familiar enough with the symptoms to understand that it is time to seek treatment.
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How long does it take to show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

You may lose balance, vision and memory and even consciousness. This can happen within 2 hours if there's a lot of carbon monoxide in the air. The smaller an animal or person is, the faster they'll be affected. Pets are often the first to show symptoms.
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What are the first signs of carbon monoxide exposure a person may notice?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you.
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ASK UNMC! What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and how is it treated?



What is carbon monoxide poisoning mistaken for?

Early symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, nausea, unclear thinking, shortness of breath, weakness, and loss of muscle control. These symptoms often mimic the flu, leading to misdiagnosis by both patient and physician.
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Does carbon monoxide make you sleepy?

Most people with a mild exposure to carbon monoxide experience headaches, fatigue, and nausea. Unfortunately, the symptoms are easily overlooked because they are often flu-like. Medium exposure can cause you to experience a throbbing headache, drowsiness, disorientation, and an accelerated heart rate.
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Can carbon monoxide slowly make you sick?

The symptoms of exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide can be similar to those of food poisoning and flu. But unlike flu, carbon monoxide poisoning doesn't cause a high temperature (fever). The symptoms can gradually get worse with long periods of exposure to carbon monoxide, leading to a delay in diagnosis.
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Can you recover from carbon monoxide poisoning on your own?

Most people who develop mild carbon monoxide poisoning recover quickly when moved into fresh air.
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How do you check for carbon monoxide without a detector?

Here are some ways to identify potential carbon monoxide leaks:
  1. Brownish or yellowish stains around appliances.
  2. A pilot light that frequently goes out.
  3. Burner flame appears yellow instead of clear blue (exception: natural gas fireplaces)
  4. No upward draft in chimney flue.
  5. Stale-smelling air.
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What is often confused with early stages of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Early symptoms of CO poisoning include irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, and dizziness. They often are confused with seasickness or intoxication. Move anyone with these symptoms to fresh air immediately.
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What medication is used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning?

There are only two therapies available to date – atmospheric pressure oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen.
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Can carbon monoxide affect you days later?

Survivors of severe, acute CO poisoning can develop long-term neurologic sequelae (e.g., impairments in memory, concentration, and speech, as well as depression and parkinsonism). These sequelae may arise immediately after CO poisoning or may be delayed (occurring 2–21 days after CO poisoning).
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How long does it take to recover from mild carbon monoxide exposure?

Delayed neurological sequelae develop between 2 and 240 days after exposure, and are reported to affect 10-32% of people recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms include cognitive changes, personality changes, incontinence, psychosis, and Parkinsonism. Fortunately, 50-75% of people recover within 1 year.
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What does carbon monoxide affect the most in the body?

How does CO harm you? Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other vital organs of oxygen. Large amounts of CO can overcome you in minutes without warning — causing you to lose consciousness and suffocate.
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How do you test for carbon monoxide poisoning?

The key to confirming the diagnosis is measuring the patient's carboxyhemoglobin (COHgb) level.
  1. COHgb levels can be tested either in whole blood or pulse oximeter.
  2. It is important to know how much time has elapsed since the patient has left the toxic environment, because that will impact the COHgb level.
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How do I know if I am breathing in carbon monoxide?

Key points about carbon monoxide poisoning

The most common source is unvented space heaters. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures, chest pain, disorientation, and loss of consciousness.
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Can a cell phone detect carbon monoxide?

The Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems Checklist mobile app inspects Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems using an iPad, iPhone, Android device, or a Windows desktop.
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How can I test my CO levels at home?

The easiest way to see if there is carbon monoxide inside your home is with a carbon monoxide detector (which also includes an alarm). In fact, many building codes require a carbon monoxide gas detector.
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What are symptoms of gas exposure?

High levels of natural gas exposure can cause natural gas poisoning, which is characterized by fatigue, severe headaches, memory problems, loss of concentration, nausea, loss of consciousness, and suffocation.
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How quickly does gas poisoning kick in?

400 ppm: After 1 to 2 hours of contact, a headache and nausea may occur; more life-threatening symptoms can occur after three hours. 800 ppm: After 45 minutes, symptoms include headache, nausea and dizziness. You might collapse or become unconscious after 1 to 2 hours of exposure.
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Does gas poisoning go away?

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can become deadly in a matter of minutes. If you suspect CO poisoning, leave your home or building immediately and call 911 or go to the emergency room. If treated quickly, the effects of CO poisoning can be reversed.
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How sick can gas make you?

Temporary discomfort and bloating could signal a normal buildup of gas, but excessive gas that's accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating or fullness, nausea or weight loss could be a warning sign of a more serious health issue – especially if you haven't made any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.
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Can an electric refrigerator leak carbon monoxide?

Electrical appliances typically do not produce CO.
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What level of carbon monoxide sets off an alarm?

They are NOT required to warn of low-levels of CO. The UL standard requires detectors to alarm within 90 minutes when exposed to 100 ppm; 35 minutes when exposed to 200 ppm and 15 minutes when exposed to 400 ppm. Some detectors are more sensitive and will, when exposed for many hours, detect or alarm at lower levels.
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