How does Carbon Monoxide kill?
How does carbon monoxide kill? When carbon monoxide (CO) is breathed in it poisons the body by displacing the oxygen levels in the blood and effectively starving vital organs including the heart and brain of oxygen. This can cause loss of consciousness and suffocation, and breathing in a large amount of this gas can have a deadly effect in a matter of minutes. Although the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can vary from person to person, there are some common symptoms, which include: Chest tightness Fatigue Headaches Dizziness Nausea and vomiting Drowsiness Chest pain Muscle weakness Loss of consciousness If it is caught in time, carbon monoxide poisoning can be reversed, but depending on the level of CO breathed in can result in permanent damage to vital organs, such as the brain or the heart. Carbon monoxide is particularly dangerous because it can kill you without you even knowing that it is present, which has earned it the name of the silent killer. Long-term exposure to carbon
