Evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning can be so varied and look like so many common health issues that “making the connection” to carbon monoxide as the source of the issue is almost always overlooked.
Carbon monoxide poisoning does have “tell tale signs” but recognizing carbon monoxide as the source of the issue isn’t as obvious as it may seem.
If a healthy individual is exposed to a low level of carbon monoxide they often begin to have trouble concentrating. Other early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning often appear as a person becomes somewhat uncoordinated, feels quite tired, and/or has a mild frontal headache.
Then the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning get stronger as flu-like, food-poisoning-like, or alcohol-poisoning-like symptoms: headache, queasiness, vomiting, dizziness, exhaustion, mild incoherence, vision problems, and foggy brain functioning.
The issue is, the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning can also be caused by a large number of common health issues.
Making the connection to carbon monoxide exposure as the source of symptoms is way less likely with mild cases (almost all cases) such as:
1) multiple low level carbon monoxide exposures / poisonings within a household, work environment, or vehicle
2) one individual with low, moderate, or perhaps a significant amount of carbon monoxide poisoning
Exactly understanding the link to carbon monoxide exposure as the source of “symptoms” is much more likely if:
1) one individual with high or intense levels of carbon monoxide poisoning is taken to hospital
2) a grouping of people from the same home are brought to emergency at the very same time, all showing signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In comparison to other health problems, the awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning is low. This typically ends in the wrong diagnosis by doctors in ERs, clinics, and medical offices. Health professionals just don’t know enough about carbon monoxide poisoning.
Awareness in the public about the indicators of carbon monoxide poisoning is also very low. Unless the circumstances around the poisoning are completely obvious, victims almost never identify the root of their symptoms.
Tragically, it is actually common for extra damage to occur while a person in a trauma room or hospital with raised levels of carbon monoxide still in their blood stream – something that could efficiently be treated by giving oxygen and/or placing them in a hyperbaric chamber.
Carbon monoxide reacts with hemoglobin (Hb) in red blood cells and forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). This is shown as the share of red blood cells carrying carbon monoxide.
The connection between symptoms, % carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) in the blood, and levels of CO in the air isn’t precise.
For more than ten years William Hart suffered with symptoms of low level carbon monoxide exposure without knowing the real cause. He is passionate about helping raise awareness and helping those that need it find carbon monoxide treatment.
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