The dangers of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is dangerous because a person may not recognise drowsiness as a symptom of poisoning. Consequently, someone with mild poisoning can go to sleep and continue to breathe the carbon monoxide until severe poisoning or death occurs. Some people with long-standing, mild carbon monoxide poisoning caused by furnaces or heaters may mistake their symptoms for other conditions.
Mild carbon monoxide poisoning causes headache, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and poor coordination. Most people who develop mild carbon monoxide poisoning recover quickly when moved into fresh air, so be aware of the symptoms. Moderate or severe carbon monoxide poisoning causes confusion, unconsciousness, chest pain, shortness of breath, and even coma. Sometimes these symptoms are not easily recognised even by a GP as they can be confused with flu or other viral infections. Carbon monoxide poisoning is diagnosed by measuring the level of carbon monoxide in the blood.
Severe poisoning is often fatal. Rarely, weeks after apparent recovery from severe carbon monoxide poisoning, symptoms such as memory loss, or poor coordination can still be experienced.
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