The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body. Help with carbon monoxide poisoning

Most likely, everyone has ever heard such a thing as "carbon monoxide". After all, because of this substance, many people suffered. Unfortunately, despite the awareness of carbon monoxide, poisoning is still everywhere. Often this is observed in houses where there is stove heating. The harmful effect of carbon monoxide on the human body is expressed in the fact that the substance affects the respiratory system. As a result, the blood composition changes. After that, the entire body begins to suffer. In the absence of treatment, intoxication can cause severe 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 is not of great danger at room temperature of the environment. High toxicity occurs if atmospheric air is strongly heated. For example, in fires. Nevertheless, 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, to which people rarely pay attention.

Carbon monoxide is ubiquitous. It is formed not only during fires, but also under normal conditions. Carbon monoxide is daily dealt with by people who have a car smoking. In addition, it is contained in the air. Nevertheless, its concentration is significantly exceeded in various emergencies. The permissible content of carbon monoxide is 33 mg / m ³ (maximum value), the lethal dose is 1.8%. As the concentration of the substance increases in the air, symptoms of hypoxia develop, that is, a lack of oxygen.

Causes of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

The main cause of poisoning is considered to be 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. Because of what increases the content of carbon monoxide? There are several factors that contribute to the formation of carbon monoxide:

1. Fires in confined spaces. A well-known fact is that most often death in fires arises not because of the direct effects of fire (burns), but because of hypoxia. A small supply of oxygen into the body is due to an increased amount of carbon monoxide in the air.
2. Stay in specialized institutions (factories, laboratories), where carbon monoxide is used. This substance is necessary to synthesize various chemical compounds. Among them - acetone, alcohol, phenol.
3. Non-compliance with the rules of operation of gas equipment. It includes heaters running water, slabs.
4. Malfunction of furnace heating. A large concentration of carbon monoxide is often observed because of poor draft in the ducts for ventilation and chimneys.
5. Long stay with cars in an unventilated garage, box.
6. Tobacco smoking, especially hookah.

In the above situations, you should always pay attention to changes in well-being. If there are signs of malaise, you need to seek help. If possible, it is worth buying a carbon monoxide detector. Mostly it is needed in poorly ventilated rooms.

The effect 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 the blocking of oxygen delivery to cells. As is known, in this process, the hemoglobin protein contained in the erythrocytes is involved. Under the influence of carbon monoxide, oxygen transport to tissues is disrupted. This occurs as a result of protein binding and the formation of a compound such as carboxyhemoglobin. A consequence of such changes is the development of hemic hypoxia. That is, the cause of oxygen starvation is damage to erythrocytes. In addition, there is another harmful 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, there are violations of the heart and skeletal muscles. The lethal outcome can lead to severe consequences of hypoxia of the brain and other organs. 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. CNS lesion is characterized by the appearance of the following symptoms: headache, nausea, decreased hearing and vision, noise in the ears, impaired consciousness and coordination of movements. In severe cases, a coma may develop, a convulsive syndrome. Changes in the cardiovascular system are the occurrence of tachycardia, pain in the chest. There is also a decrease in muscle tone, weakness. The patient becomes difficult to breathe, tachypnea is noted. Skin and mucous membranes are hyperemic.

In some cases, there are atypical clinical forms of poisoning. These include symptoms such as a faint and euphoric state. In the first case, there are short-term loss of consciousness, a decrease in blood pressure, pale skin. The euphoric form is characterized by psychomotor agitation, the development of hallucinations, delusions.

Diagnosis 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. Pay attention to the living conditions, place of work of the patient. If the house has stove heating, it is necessary to find out how often the room is ventilated. If there is a suspicion of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to conduct a study of the gas composition of the blood. At an average severity level, the concentration of carboxyhemoglobin is in the range of 20 to 50%. In addition, there is an increase in the content of carbon dioxide. The oxygen concentration decreases. At a severe degree of poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin is more than 50%. In addition to oximetry, a general and biochemical blood test is performed. To diagnose complications, ECG, electroencephalography, dopplerography of the vessels of the heart and brain are performed.

Consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning

The severity of the patient's condition in case of carbon monoxide poisoning is caused by 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 hypoxia of organs and tissues can lead to such complications as stroke, myocardial infarction, acute respiratory and heart failure. At the expressed intoxication biochemical disturbances of acid-alkaline balance are observed. They consist in the development of metabolic acidosis. If the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air is more than 1.8%, in the first minutes of being in the room a person may die. To prevent the development of severe hypoxia, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

Emergency assistance with gas poisoning

What is the emergency aid for carbon monoxide poisoning? The answer to this question should be known not only to doctors, but also people who are in the risk zone (constantly in contact with carbon monoxide). First of all, remove the injured person to fresh air and ventilate the room. If the patient is unconscious, it is necessary to provide access to oxygen, remove from him shy clothes and put on his left side. If necessary, resuscitation is carried out. If a person is in an unconscious state, you should bring a cotton wool with ammonia to his nose, grind the chest to improve the flow of blood to the organs. The antidote of carbon monoxide is oxygen. Therefore, patients with an average severity of intoxication should be in a special mask for several hours.

Carbon monoxide poisoning: hospital treatment

In most cases, hospitalization is indicated. The patient does not need a special treatment if he has a slight poisoning with carbon monoxide. Treatment in this case is walking in the fresh air. With an average and severe degree of 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. After stabilization of the condition, specific treatment in pressure chambers, climate change, etc., is recommended.

The detector of carbon monoxide by household - what is it?

Currently, there are special sensors that respond to the increase in the concentration of carbon monoxide in the room. The carbon monoxide detector is a household appliance, which should be installed almost everywhere. Unfortunately, such a rule is rarely observed, and sensors are only available in production facilities (laboratories, plants). It should be noted that the detectors should be installed in private houses, apartments, as well as garages. This will help to avoid dangerous consequences for life.