Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms
from one-time exposure (acute CO poisoning)

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms from one time exposure (acute CO poisoning) can range from not feeling any symptoms at all to feeling major symptoms (but not knowing what's causing them) to death in minutes.

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms depend on the level of CO in the air, how long it is breathed, and a persons level of activity.

Many other factors play a role in the severity of symptoms, short term effects, long term effects, and the amount of carbon monoxide damage.

Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms vary widely from person to person.

A person with mild symptoms may actually be severely poisoned.

Carbon monoxide reacts with hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells and forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). This is expressed as a percentage of red blood cells carrying carbon monoxide.

Low level carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

• Flu like symptoms
  
  
• Food poisoning like symptoms
  
  
• Headache
  
  
• Brain fog and difficulty thinking
  
  
• Problems focusing
  
  
• Shortness of breath
  
  
• Feeling of tightness across forehead
  
  
• Throbbing in temples
  
  
• Unexplained panic, anxiety, or sense of dread
  
  
• Irritability/mood swings
  
  
• Mild nausea
  
  
• Unexplained claustrophobia
  
  
• Unexplained sense that there is a presence or something is watching (many "ghost houses" have been found to have had carbon monoxide leaks)
  
  

Moderate carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

• Strong headache (sometimes described as different than a migraine, tension, or dehydration headache)
  
  
• Dizziness
  
  
• Nausea
  
  
• Disorientation/confusion
  
  
• Hallucinations
  
  
• Increased rate of breathing
  
  

High level carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

• Vomiting
  
  
• Abnormal heart beat
  
  
• Convulsions/seizures
  
  
• Lower body temperature
  
  
• Shouting and incoherent behavior
  
  

Extreme carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

• Collapse
  
  
• Seriously low blood pressure
  
  
• Heart and respiratory failure
  
  
• Unconsciousness
  
  
• Coma
  
  
• Death
  
  

A survivor may have a delayed reaction to carbon monoxide poisoning with additional [new] symptoms occurring in the weeks and months after exposure.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause all kinds of injury and damage resulting in a range of short term effects and long term effects.

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My experience of poisoning

martin telford from newcastle-upon-tyne England

Suffered levels of 19% (blood test taken after 1 hour of arrival at hospital) so could be close to 38%. thought I was going to die. I was at work breathing in CO from a flue which had been opened. The flue was off a burner used to heat 100 ton of lead. I collapsed unconscious and was given oxygen on the way to hospital. I am a keen 400m runner and have never ever managed to hit anywhere near the levels of performance I was at before the poisoning. Always short of information about CO I never realized it could have this effect until reading.

Carbon Monoxide Posioning!! :(

melissa from Spokane WA

Can u have only one of the syptoms to be diagnosed as carbon monoxide posioning?? or do u have to have all the syptoms? because my mother in law has a pellet stove and was just wondering because i have a little 4mth old and am concerned about her health! should i have a co detector installed in my house?

Carbon Monoxide Posioning!! :(

melissa from Spokane WA

Can u have only one of the syptoms to be diagnosed as carbon monoxide posioning?? or do u have to have all the syptoms? because my mother in law has a pellet stove and was just wondering because i have a little 4mth old and am concerned about her health! should i have a co detector installed in my house?

Carbon Monoxide Posioning!! :(

melissa from Spokane WA

Can u have only one of the syptoms to be diagnosed as carbon monoxide posioning?? or do u have to have all the syptoms? because my mother in law has a pellet stove and was just wondering because i have a little 4mth old and am concerned about her health! should i have a co detector installed in my house?

Carbon Monoxide Posioning!! :(

melissa from Spokane WA

Can u have only one of the syptoms to be diagnosed as carbon monoxide posioning?? or do u have to have all the syptoms? because my mother in law has a pellet stove and was just wondering because i have a little 4mth old and am concerned about her health! should i have a co detector installed in my house?

Carbon Monoxide Posioning!! :(

melissa from Spokane WA

Can u have only one of the syptoms to be diagnosed as carbon monoxide posioning?? or do u have to have all the syptoms? because my mother in law has a pellet stove and was just wondering because i have a little 4mth old and am concerned about her health! should i have a co detector installed in my house?

can doctors diagnose CO 3mths after the incident

tony morreale from manchester UK

I was rushed into hospital in nov 2010 after a collapse at home, i was found semi unconsious,and incoherant . the hospital thought i was drunk, but after being told i did not drink, i was admitted for being a stroke victim, i spent 5 days in hospital and no evidence of a stroke was found, so i was sent home, since then, my memory has been affected especially long term, my judgement impaired loss of weight and blurred vision, further hospital test show nothing, last week we had the gas appliances tested, they immediately found the gas fire to be dangerous and disconected, ( i live in rented accommadation,) Can doctors confirm CO poisong after 3mths

dizzy

Darcy Niblo from denver colorado

I was poisoned about 6 months ago.And i have many symptoms that are listed.But the one that is the worst for me is im dizzy all the time. I have to walk with a cane or a walker.It get so bad i fell in the shower and fractured my hip. So i was woundering is being dizzy all the time a symptom?

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