A Guide to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Guide to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (CO Poisoning)

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Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide can poison or kill an individual with little warning. There are a number of symptoms that are indicators of possible carbon monoxide poisoning. These symptoms vary depending on the amount of exposure to the actual poison. Recently, studies have been performed to show that chronic carbon monoxide poisoning can result in long term, residual effects on our bodies.

Dr. David G. Penney has conducted one such study. He suggests that long periods of exposure to carbon monoxide, even at low levels, can result in long-term effects. He calls this chronic carbon monoxide poisoning. This can cause effects in an individual for days, weeks, months, or even years. Results vary depending on the age and health of an individual.

For the purposes of Dr. Penney’s study, the term “chronic” is used to describe how long the carbon monoxide exposure lasts, not how long the resulting effects are.

• Physical symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, chronic fatigue, dizziness, numbness, tingling, vertigo
• Cognitive / Memory Impairments: attention problems, multi-tasking problems, word-finding problems, short-term memory problems, verbal and/or visual deficits.
• Affective Disorders (emotional/personality effects): irritability, anxiety, lack of motivation, temper, loss of interest, sleep disturbance.
• Sensory and Motor Disorders: blurry vision, double vision, buzzing in the ears, decreased co-ordination, speaking, eating and swallowing disorders.
• Gross Neurological Disorders: seizures, inability to speak, balance problems, tremors.