Unsafe carbon monoxide level in the body and blood stream. How long does it stay in the body?

When a person or animal breathes air with an unsafe carbon monoxide level the amount of carbon monoxide in their blood stream (COHb) will begin to rise.

Once removed from the source of carbon monoxide:

• Breathing fresh air will decrease the unsafe carbon monoxide level in the blood stream by 50% within 4 to 5 hours, then another 50% every 4 to 5 hours after that until normal levels are reached.
  
  
• Breathing pure oxygen will decrease the unsafe carbon monoxide level in the blood stream by 50% within about 1 hour, then another 50% every hour after that until normal levels are reached.
  
  
• Being placed in a hyperbaric chamber will force the unsafe carbon monoxide level out of the blood stream by 50% within 20 to 25 minutes, then another 50% every 20 to 25 minutes after that until normal levels are reached.

The longer the amount of time and higher the level of carbon monoxide in the blood stream, the greater the risk of injury and damage resulting in short term effects and long term effects.

Lowering unsafe carbon monoxide levels in the bloodstream is vital as the less time elevated levels remain in the blood stream the lower the risk of damage and ongoing health issues.

* If a woman is pregnant, the fetus is at higher risk of effects from an unsafe carbon monoxide level and poisoning. It takes longer to eliminate carbon monoxide from the fetus's blood than from the mother's blood.

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How Long?

Tonya from North Idaho

How long can you be exposed before it becomes lithal? How fast will one die with this kind of poisoning?

CO exposure, repeated

Dave from PA

I bought a old car and it had holes in the floor boards and mufflers. I drove it around for periods of no longer than 10 mins when this happened, but it was enough to notice some CO symptoms. One day I had it so bad, I came inside with my heart beating out of my chest, dizzy and passed out/asleep. I later woke hours later feeling ill.

I can\'t confirm this, but since then my mood has changed as well as my physical condition. Of course turning 30 and gaining weight probably has something to with it, but I believe my memory and overall mental health has been compromised by this, as well as physical health... anyways, it would be nice to hear some feedback form people who are in the same boat as me or can offer-up any knowledge.

Long term afects

Anthoney from Utah

I want to know how long can it stay in the blood stream months? Years what I need some awnsers and the dics wnt tell me anytging

carbon monoxide inhaled

cheryl from virginia

i was exposed to it today probably for a half hour i notice my gate is off but nothing else really. Should I be concerned?

medical protocol needs an overhaul

40something mom from Canada

6 Weeks after an extreme poisoning, I continue to have elevated levels of CO in my blood. Fortunately I am going to get home oxygen delivered today and I am going to go to a private clinic to get additional hyperbaric treatments.

Given that no doctor or information is present, I would insist on additional treatments or go for private ones if you can. I believe oxygen protocol (or some other treatment they have not yet determined) should be much longer than the first 48 hours.

the cure is there its the misdiagnosis that is problem

cassandra from uk

in uk healthvisitors and pharmacists gps etc are all going to have easy to use gismo to check if suspect co poiisoning trouble is symtoms so divers and multiple unless obvious resp diff or collapsing profs go to their mindset tickbox and get it wrong treat 1 of symptoms but not root cause i had a list of 10 symptoms when suffering unknown to me and doc only got to2 on my list got annoyed said i have other people waiting and tahen in confusion i lost the list nd got depressed

Jerry

Good info. Thanks.

Tina

Spot on. This is exactly what I needed to know. Thx.

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