Most likely, everyone at least once heard such a thing as “carbon monoxide”. Indeed, because of this substance, many people suffered. Unfortunately, despite the awareness of carbon monoxide, poisoning with them is still found everywhere. Often this is observed in houses where there is stove heating. The detrimental effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is expressed in the fact that the substance affects the respiratory system. As a result, changes in blood composition occur. After which the whole organism begins to suffer. If untreated, intoxication can cause serious consequences.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide is a substance that does not have color and odor. Another name for this compound is carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide formula is CO. It is believed that this substance does not pose a great danger at room temperature. High toxicity occurs if atmospheric air is very hot. For example, during fires. However, even a small concentration of carbon monoxide can cause poisoning. At room temperature, this chemical rarely leads to the development of symptoms of severe intoxication. But it can cause chronic poisoning, which people rarely pay attention to.
Carbon monoxide is ubiquitous. It is formed not only during fires, but also under normal conditions. Carbon monoxide is dealt daily by people who have a car, smokers. In addition, it is contained in the air. However, its concentration is significantly exceeded in various emergencies. The acceptable content of carbon monoxide is considered to be 33 mg / m 3 (maximum value), the lethal dose is 1.8%. With an increase in the concentration of a substance in the air, symptoms of hypoxia, that is, a lack of oxygen, develop.
Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning
The main cause of poisoning is the harmful effect of carbon monoxide on the human body. This occurs if the concentration of this compound in the atmosphere is above the permissible norm. What causes a rise in carbon monoxide? There are several factors that produce carbon monoxide:
- Fires in enclosed spaces. A well-known fact is that most often death during fires does not occur due to the direct effects of fire (burns), but as a result of hypoxia. The low intake of oxygen in the body is due to the increased amount of carbon monoxide in the air.
- Stay in specialized institutions (factories, laboratories) where carbon monoxide is used. This substance is necessary to synthesize various chemical compounds. Among them are acetone, alcohol, phenol.
- Failure to comply with the rules of operation of gas equipment. It includes running water heaters, stoves.
- Malfunctioning stove heating. A high concentration of carbon monoxide is often observed due to poor draft in ventilation ducts and chimneys.
- Long stay with cars in an unventilated garage, boxing.
- Tobacco smoking, especially hookah.
In the above situations, you should constantly pay attention to changes in health. If there are signs of malaise, seek help. If possible, you should buy a carbon monoxide detector. To a greater extent, it is needed in poorly ventilated rooms.
The effects of carbon monoxide on the body
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous for the body? This is due to the mechanism of its effect on the tissue. The main effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is to block the delivery of oxygen to cells. As you know, the hemoglobin protein contained in red blood cells is involved in this process. Under the influence of carbon monoxide, oxygen transport to tissues is impaired. This occurs as a result of protein binding and the formation of a compound such as carboxyhemoglobin. The consequence of such changes is the development of hemic hypoxia. That is, the cause of oxygen starvation is damage to red blood cells. In addition, there is another fatal effect of carbon monoxide on the human body. It has a detrimental effect on muscle tissue. This is due to the binding of carbon monoxide to myoglobin. As a result, disorders of the heart and skeletal muscles are noted. The severe consequences of hypoxia of the brain and other organs can lead to death. Most often, disorders occur in acute poisoning. But chronic intoxication is not excluded.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
The main damaging effects of carbon monoxide are directed to the tissue of the brain, heart and skeletal muscles. Damage to the central nervous system is characterized by the occurrence of the following symptoms: headache, nausea, decreased hearing and vision, tinnitus, impaired consciousness and coordination of movements. In severe cases, a coma may develop, convulsive syndrome. Changes in the cardiovascular system are the occurrence of tachycardia, chest pain. There is also a decrease in muscle tone, weakness. It becomes difficult for the patient to breathe, tachypnea is noted. The skin and mucous membranes are hyperemic.
In some cases, atypical clinical forms of poisoning are found. These include symptoms such as fainting and euphoric. In the first case, short-term loss of consciousness, a decrease in blood pressure, and pallor of the skin are observed. The euphoric form is characterized by psychomotor agitation, the development of hallucinations, delusional ideas.
Diagnostics of carbon monoxide poisoning
Help with carbon monoxide poisoning can be provided only if such a condition is diagnosed in time. After all, the symptoms of hypoxia are observed in various diseases. Attention should be paid to living conditions, the place of work of the patient. If the house has stove heating, you need to find out how often the room is ventilated. If carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected, it is necessary to conduct a study of the gas composition of the blood. With moderate severity, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin is in the range from 20 to 50%. In addition, there is an increase in carbon dioxide. The oxygen concentration is reduced. In severe poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin is more than 50%. In addition to oximetry, a general and biochemical blood test is performed. To diagnose complications, an ECG, electroencephalography, dopplerography of the vessels of the heart and brain are performed.
The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning
The severity of the patient's condition during carbon monoxide poisoning is due to hypoxia. The higher the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air, the worse the prognosis of the disease. In addition, it matters how long a person has been in contact with a poisonous substance. The consequences of organ and tissue hypoxia can lead to complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory and heart failure. With severe intoxication, biochemical disturbances in the acid-base balance are observed. They are the development of metabolic acidosis. If the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is more than 1.8%, even in the first minutes of being indoors, a person may die. To prevent the development of severe hypoxia, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Emergency care for gas poisoning
What is the emergency care for carbon monoxide poisoning? The answer to this question should be known not only to doctors, but also to people at risk (constantly in contact with carbon monoxide). First of all, take the injured person to fresh air and ventilate the room. If the patient is unconscious, it is necessary to provide oxygen access, remove constraining clothes from him and put on his left side. If necessary, resuscitation measures are carried out. If a person is in a fainting state, you should bring cotton wool with ammonia to his nose and rub his chest to improve blood flow to organs. The antidote of carbon monoxide is oxygen. Therefore, patients with moderate intoxication should be in a special mask for several hours.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Inpatient Treatment
In most cases, hospitalization is indicated. The patient does not need a special regimen if he has mild carbon monoxide poisoning. The treatment in this case is walking in the fresh air. With moderate and severe degrees, hospitalization is necessary, especially this rule applies to pregnant women, children and people suffering from cardiac pathologies. With the development of complications, the patient is placed in the intensive care unit to monitor oxygen saturation indicators. After stabilization, specific treatment in hyperbaric chambers, climate change, etc. is recommended.
Household carbon monoxide detector - what is it?
Currently, there are special sensors that respond to increasing concentrations of carbon monoxide in the room. A carbon monoxide detector is a household appliance that should be installed almost everywhere. Unfortunately, this rule is rarely observed, and sensors are only available in production facilities (laboratories, factories). It should be noted that the detectors must be installed in private houses, apartments, as well as garages. This will help to avoid life-threatening consequences.