Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) gas is produced by burning fuel. CO gas is poisonous, and even breathing in small amounts can cause loss of consciousness and  death. Around 30 people in the UK die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning.

It’s hard to detect carbon monoxide because it has no smell or colour. This means it’s easy to breathe in without realising.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuels such as gas, oil, coal and wood don’t burn fully. When any fire burns in an enclosed room, the oxygen in the room is gradually used up, and replaced with carbon dioxide. When there’s a large amount of carbon dioxide in the air, the fuel can’t carry on burning fully, and starts releasing carbon monoxide instead.

When we breathe in carbon monoxide it gets into our blood stream, and mixes with the haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.  When carbon monoxide mixes with haemoglobin, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen. This lack of oxygen causes the body tissue and cells to die.

When haemoglobin mixes with carbon monoxide it produces a compound called carboxyhaemoglobin. Carboxyhaemoglobin affects blood vessels in the body, causing them to become 'leaky'. This can lead to swelling in the brain, causing unconsciousness and neurological (nerve) damage.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Prevention
• Complications

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

  ---