Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you if present in large quantities. If this killer gas is unnoticeable to the human senses, how can we detect it? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), carbon monoxide detectors look for the presence of carbon monoxide in the air, making them crucial pieces of equipment to have in your home.
The Mayo Clinic explains that carbon monoxide is poisonous to the human body because of the way in which it binds to hemoglobin, the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, in your blood. When carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin, it makes it harder for oxygen to bind, therefore reducing the amount of oxygen that is available to your tissues. This causes the tissues in your body to become ischemic, or blood-deficient, and eventually die. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin 200 times more strongly than oxygen does, so those who have been exposed to excessive amounts of carbon monoxide must be taken to see a doctor immediately.
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Recognizing the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can help identify its presence. The Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) describes that some of the most common symptoms are head pain, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. One treatment for carbon monoxide is oxygen therapy with pure oxygen administered via helped ventilation. In cases in which carbon monoxide poisoning is extreme, a patient may be placed in a hyperbaric chamber, a chamber filled with oxygen at three times the normal air pressure.
One way to lessen the amount of carbon monoxide in your home is to have your heating systems and chimney cleaned every year to prevent clogging of pipes. Also, never use a wood burning stove in enclosed places or a generator inside your home. Being informed and cautious is key to preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and potentially saving your life. So unless you want to be gasping for air, please be aware of potential carbon monoxide sources, and be sure to test your carbon monoxide detectors every month!
