Carbon monoxide poisoning:
A survivor's guide

Because there's a lot you should know about CO poisoning

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 effectslong 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.

0-10%

Generally does not cause symptoms but can cause some loss of coordination, tiredness, dizziness, and difficulty focusing in sensitive people

10-20%

Mild frontal headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of coordination, difficulty focusing

20-30%

Headache, rapid heartbeat, confusion, lethargy, visual disturbances

All levels of exposure from this forward may lead to death as the victim loses motivation and ability to leave the danger zone (even in a fire)

30-40%

Collapse

40-50%

Seizures

50- 60%

Coma

60-70%

Death in under 2 hours

80-90%

Death in under 1 hour

90-100%

Death in minutes

 

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.

 

Tell your carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms

What do you have to say? Click here...
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?
What do you have to say? Click here...

 

Return to Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms while in the body/bloodstream or top of Carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms from one-time exposure (acute CO poisoning)





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