What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning? Carbon monoxide poisoning, what you need to know. Severe degree of intoxication

Sad statistic - poisoning carbon monoxide firmly occupies the first place among household intoxications that resulted in death. The danger lies in the fact that CO2 does not have a specific smell, it is colorless, so a person does not notice negative impact. Timely therapy allows you to quickly restore the health of the victim, but often already at the scene of the incident, death is ascertained.

ICD code 10-T58.

Action on the body

Pathogenesis is due to the qualities of CO2, the duration of the patient's stay in the danger zone. Carbon dioxide provides bad influence on the internal systems:

1. Blocks the delivery of O2, which leads to erythrocyte dysfunction. The chemical binds to hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin. As a result blood cells unable to nourish tissue necessary element, develops oxygen starvation.
2. At the same time, they suffer nerve cells which manifests itself characteristic symptoms- attacks of nausea, cephalgia, dizziness, problems with coordination of movements.
3. Carbon monoxide also affects the work of muscles - cardiac, as well as skeletal. When combined with proteins, it provokes shortness of breath, a decrease in heart rate, tachycardia and increased respiration.

At the slightest sign urgently need to leave the danger zone and call emergency care. High risk of death.

Where are cases of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning possible?

The most common lesion is diagnosed under the following conditions:

1. During the fire. Combustion products contain toxic compounds that quickly provoke poisoning.
2. In enterprises where carbon dioxide is used in the production of organic substances such as phenol, acetone, methyl alcohol etc. Use CO2 for blast furnaces, oil refining. When welding, there are risks of damage by acetylene.
3. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs in apartments and houses, in baths, where heating or cooking is used gas cylinders with propane, stoves with methane supply.
4. Probably even a defeat by gunpowder smoke among hunting enthusiasts.
5. In the absence of ventilation in garages and other poorly ventilated areas. The permissible content of exhaust gases from cars is 1-3%, however, if the car's carburetor is poorly adjusted, the concentration rises to 10%, which threatens with intoxication.
6. Long stay next to a busy highway. Often average CO2 is several times higher than the standards.
7. Poor air quality in breathing apparatus such as scuba gear.
8. Smoking hookah is often accompanied by dizziness, cephalalgia, bouts of nausea and drowsiness. Such actions are due to damage by carbon monoxide, which is formed with a small flow of O2 into the apparatus.

Of course, this is a short enumeration of the reasons that provoke the risks of poisoning. For example, forest fires, burning household waste, fallen leaves by the owners of private houses, premature closing of the oven view, non-compliance with safety regulations when working in boiler rooms, sewer wells, and illiterate handling of gas water heaters can lead to a characteristic clinic.

Risk groups (with hypersensitivity to CO)

Special care should be taken in the following categories:

1. Women during pregnancy.
2. Patients with heart problems vascular system, bronchial asthma, anemia.
3. People exposed to alcohol.
4. Smokers.
5. Children and teenagers.

At risk, first aid is provided immediately.

Signs of poisoning depending on the concentration of carbon monoxide (CO)

Symptoms of gas intoxication appear in proportion to the degree of damage and the duration of exposure.

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning in a child, the characteristic clinical picture manifested at much lower concentrations of toxic substances.

Symptoms of poisoning

There are 3 stages with characteristic features.

Timely medical care will allow you to quickly perform resuscitation and rehabilitation of the patient, even with severe poisoning.

The mechanism of occurrence of symptoms

Carbon monoxide, combustion products adversely affect internal systems. At the same time, a specific clinic appears, which allows you to quickly separate the problem from poisoning with other toxic compounds - mercury vapor, chlorine, paint, sulfuric acid, the contents of pepper spray, tear, paralytic, etc.

Neurological symptoms

With carbon monoxide poisoning in mild or moderate severity, the patient has the following symptoms:

1. Herpes zoster cephalgia with the greatest localization in the temporal zones.
2. There is a pronounced noise in the ear passages, hearing worsens.
3. The person complains of dizziness.
4. There is nausea, flowing into vomiting.
5. Flies flash before the eyes, the image becomes flickering, vision is sharply reduced.
6. The consciousness is clouded, short-term fainting is possible.
7. Coordination is broken.

At acute poisoning carbon monoxide as the brain and peripheral nervous system observed:

• convulsions;
• unconscious state;
• uncontrolled bowel and bladder emptying;
• coma.

Primary symptoms characteristic of mild degree Carbon monoxide poisoning develops as a result of oxygen starvation of the brain. When damaged deep structures the clinical picture is significantly complicated and is quite capable of leading to death.

Cardiovascular symptoms

Signs of poisoning also depend on the severity.

For mild to moderate:

1. The heartbeat becomes faster.
2. There is pain in the chest.

In severe carbon monoxide poisoning, observe:

1. Pulse up to 130. However, remains thready.
2. The risk of myocardial infarction increases.

The body is trying to somehow correct the picture, compensate for the lack of oxygen, increasing the pumping of blood. However, the heart itself is also deficient. nutrient. As a result, a high load provokes a serious condition.

Respiratory symptoms

Ugar also affects the pulmonary system:

1. With mild and moderate poisoning, shortness of breath appears, breathing becomes frequent.
2. In the severe stage, superficial and intermittent.

Insufficiently fast provision of PMP often leads to lung failure and death.

Skin symptoms

If carbon monoxide poisoning is detected, obvious signs not on the epidermal layer. There is usually facial redness caused by increased blood flow. With a pronounced lesion, the shade becomes pale pink.

Consequences of poisoning

Complications that develop as a result of intoxication are divided into 2 types.

Early, characteristic for the first 2 days:

• dizziness;
• cephalgia;
• poor coordination;
• loss of sensation in the limbs;
• bowel and bladder problems;
• decreased vision and hearing;
• swelling of the brain.

If the patient had previously had mental illness, their course is exacerbated.

The definition of "late" includes:

• violation of the frequency and depth of heartbeats;
• pathology coronary circulation;
• stop the main muscle;
• memory loss;
• toxic pulmonary edema;
• apathy;
• blindness;
• decrease in intelligence;
• psychoses;
• Parkinson's disease;
• paralysis.

Such effects are detected up to 40 days after poisoning.

Severe complications leading to death

Lead to irreversible changes and death:

• swelling with further necrosis;
• problems of cerebral circulation;
• myocardial infarction;
• severe pneumonia;
• hemorrhages in the subarachnoid cavities.

Modern medicine has the necessary experience and means to prevent a tragic outcome. Therefore, if you suspect even minimal exposure to carbon monoxide, you need to call an ambulance. Treatment is unacceptable folk recipes and homeopathy. Otherwise, relatives of the poisoned person risk finding a corpse at home.

What to do in case of carbon monoxide intoxication in a fire?

Sequencing:

1. Stop exposure to carbon monoxide.
2. Provide fresh air supply.
3. Stimulate the flow of blood to the brain.
4. Bring to life in the absence of consciousness.
5. If necessary, make a heart massage, artificial respiration.
6. Give the antidote to drink.
7. Make sure that the person remains calm until the ambulance arrives.

These measures will increase the chances of the victim to rescue.

First aid

Pre-medical procedures:

1. A person who has been poisoned is taken out into the street, unbuttoned clothes that restrict movement. If it is impossible to independently evacuate the victim, the source of carbon monoxide is blocked.
2. They put on an oxygen mask or a gas mask equipped with a hopcalite cartridge. Filtering devices are useless, since the porous structure is not able to retain CO2.
3. Purify oral cavity and upper Airways from mucus and vomiting.
4. Lay on one side so that when emptying the stomach, the masses do not penetrate into the lungs and the tongue does not sunk.
5. If the patient is unconscious, ammonia is brought.
6. The chest is rubbed, a heating pad or mustard plasters are applied to the back.
7. Give hot coffee or strong tea for a tonic effect on the nervous system and respiratory center.
8. If necessary artificial ventilation lungs, perform according to this algorithm - 2 breaths, 30 clicks on the heart area.
9. Great if in home first aid kit there is an antidote - Acizol. Intramuscularly prick 1 ml. Repeat the procedure after an hour.

The nurse and doctor who came to the call will assess the patient's condition, if necessary, they will carry out pre-hospital procedures and the heavy "client" will be transported to the hospital.

Treatment Methods

Upon admission of the patient, an emergency diagnosis is carried out, blood biochemistry is done. As the results are ready, the scheme is adjusted. The main task of the staff is to save lives.

Medical program:

1. O2 has an antidote effect in carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, an oxygen mask is used, through which the patient receives 9–16 liters of the element per minute. If consciousness is absent, intubate and connect to a ventilator.
2. shown intravenous administration sodium bicarbonate, drugs such as Chlosol, Quartasol, to eliminate hemodynamic disorders.
3. In order to urgently neutralize the effect of a poisonous substance, they resort to Acizol. The drug reduces the effect of toxins, prevents the combination of CO2 with hemoglobin.
4. When poisoning has led to dehydration, make up for the loss of fluid. For example, a glucose solution is prescribed drip.
5. Magnesium is used to stabilize cardiac activity.

At first, the patient is shown complete rest. In the future, therapy takes place with the intake of vitamin and mineral complexes provide nutritional advice.

Prevention

To avoid poisoning and not have to resort to medical care, it is enough to follow simple rules:

1. Work in industries related to carbon monoxide must be safe. The slightest leaks provoke chronic poisoning, which can become acute at any time.
2. A pregnant woman must remember that not only she is in danger, it is easy to poison an unborn child. Therefore, it is advisable not to visit picnics and baths once again, carefully monitor the health of the stove, and with the slightest deviation, be able to visit a gynecologist.
3. In the case of stove heating, the owners of houses should periodically check the ventilation, do not forget about cleaning the chimneys from soot.
4. Do not leave a running car indoors for a long time.
5. Avoid long stays near conveyor belts.
6. A special sensor should be installed in the house, which registers the concentration of CO2.

If prevention did not help and carbon monoxide poisoning did occur on the factory floor, it is considered work injury under which temporary disability is imposed. And it’s better not to get sick and not endanger your body.

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, has chemical formula CO. It has no color, taste, smell. The characteristic smell attributed to it by non-specialists is actually the smell of impurities, which, like CO, are released during the combustion of organic matter.

Carbon monoxide is formed during the combustion of substances and materials containing carbon. In addition to wood and coal, these include oil and its products, including gasoline and diesel fuel. Accordingly, the cause of poisoning can be staying in the immediate vicinity of the place of combustion of carbonaceous substances, including close to running car engines.

The maximum allowable concentration of carbon monoxide in the atmospheric air for a person is 33 mg/m³. According to hygienic standards, the concentration should not exceed 20 mg/m³. Fatal outcome causes inhalation of air, 0.1% of which is carbon monoxide, within an hour. By comparison, car engine exhaust internal combustion contain 1.5–3% of this toxic substance, therefore, CO belongs to the 2.3 hazard class according to the international classification.

Causes of carbon monoxide poisoning

Most common causes carbon monoxide poisoning:

• long (over 5 hours) being in close proximity to highways with busy traffic;
• being in an unventilated room in which there is a source of combustion, devoid of the removal of combustion products. It can be a fire, a running car, a stove with a closed chimney, etc.;
• neglect of safety rules and instructions for the devices used when using household and home-made devices that provide for combustion (burners, potbelly stoves and other heating devices).

AT cigarette smoke also contains CO, but its concentration is too low to cause serious poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is also formed during gas welding, which uses carbon dioxide. The latter, which is carbon dioxide (CO2), loses an oxygen atom when heated and turns into CO. But when natural gas is burned in serviceable stoves and appliances, CO is not formed. If they are faulty, then carbon monoxide is released in concentrations dangerous to health.

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

At concentrations of carbon monoxide less than 0.009%, poisoning occurs only in cases of being in a gassed place for more than 3.5 hours. Intoxication occurs in mild form and often goes unnoticed, since its symptoms are mild: psychomotor reactions slow down, a rush of blood to the organs is possible. In people suffering from cardiovascular disease may experience shortness of breath and chest pain.

With an increase in the concentration of CO in the air to 0.052%, an hour of continuous exposure is required for the development of symptoms of intoxication. As a result, headache and visual disturbances are added to the above symptoms.

When the concentration rises to 0.069%, an hour is enough for the headache to become throbbing, dizziness, nausea, incoordination, irritability, short-term memory lapses and visual hallucinations appear.

A concentration of CO equal to 0.094% within two hours leads to hallucinations, severe ataxia and tachypnea.

More high content CO in the air leads to quick loss consciousness, coma and death. These symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning at its concentration in the inhaled air of 1.2% occur within a few minutes.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a volatile compound that quickly dissipates in the atmosphere. The victim must immediately leave the epicenter with the highest concentration of gas. Most often, for this it is enough to leave the room in which the source is located, if the victim cannot do this, he should be taken out (carried out).

It is impossible for a non-specialist to independently assess the severity of the victim's condition, this can only be done based on the results of a blood test. Therefore, even with minor signs of poisoning, it is necessary to seek medical help. In a state of moderate severity, even if the victim is able to move independently, you need to call ambulance. When calling, the dispatcher must be informed of the exact symptoms, the source of poisoning and the duration of being near it.

While waiting for the arrival of doctors, the victim should be kept calm. Lay down, turning your head to one side, get rid of clothes that interfere with breathing (unbutton your collar, belt, bra), ensure a constant supply of oxygen.

In this condition, hypothermia of the body is dangerous, and it should be prevented by applying heating pads or mustard plasters to the legs.

In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to carefully turn the victim on his side. This posture will keep the airways open and eliminate the possibility of choking on saliva, phlegm, or the tongue sunk into the throat.

Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning

The general principle of medical care in case of poisoning with this product is to saturate the body of the victim with oxygen. For mild poisoning, oxygen masks are used, in most cases this is sufficient.

In more severe cases apply:

• forced ventilation of the lungs (IVL);
• subcutaneous administration of caffeine or lobelin;
• the introduction of cocarboxylase intravenously;
• administration of Acizol intramuscularly.

In severe poisoning, the patient can be placed in a hyperbaric pressure chamber.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in children

Most childhood carbon monoxide poisoning results from playing with fire. In second place is staying in rooms with faulty stoves.

At the first sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is necessary to take the child to fresh air and call an ambulance. The use of oxygen bags in this case is not recommended. Hospitalization is necessary in all cases, even if the degree of poisoning is insignificant. Children are at high risk of serious complications, in particular pneumonia.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in pregnant women

Pregnant women are much more sensitive to increased concentration carbon monoxide in the air than the rest. Studies conducted in 1993 by foreign scientists showed that symptoms of poisoning can be observed at the maximum allowable concentration or even less. Therefore, expectant mothers should avoid places potential risk listed above.

In addition to the usual complications, carbon monoxide poisoning during pregnancy carries with it another danger.

Even small doses of CO that enter the bloodstream can lead to fetal death.

Complications and consequences

When breathing, carbon dioxide passes from the lungs into the blood in the same way as oxygen does, and enters into chemical reaction with hemoglobin. As a result, instead of normal oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin is formed in the following proportion - at a ratio of CO and air of 1/1500, half of the hemoglobin will turn into carboxyhemoglobin. This compound is not only unable to carry oxygen, but also prevents the release of the latter from oxyhemoglobin. As a result, oxygen starvation of the hemic type occurs.

The processes described above cause hypoxia, which negatively affects the work of all internal organs. Asphyxia is especially dangerous for the brain. It can cause both minor impairments to memory and thinking, and serious neurological or even psychiatric diseases.

Recently, British scientists from the University of Leeds, together with French colleagues, found that even slight carbon dioxide poisoning violates heartbeat, which can lead to grave consequences up to death.

Prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning

The density of atmospheric air at altitudes characteristic of most of the territory of Russia is such that it is heavier than carbon monoxide. It follows from this fact that the latter will always accumulate in the upper part of the room, and outside them rise to the upper layers of the atmosphere. Therefore, once in smoky rooms, you should leave them, keeping your head as low as possible.

You can protect your home from unintended CO2 emissions using a sensor that automatically detects the concentration of this substance in the air and gives an alarm when it is exceeded.

Garages, houses with stove heating and enclosed spaces where appliances and devices that can serve as a source of carbon monoxide are located must be checked at least once a year for compliance with safety regulations. So, in garages, the ventilation system should be regularly checked, and in houses with stove heating, the health of the heating system, especially the chimney and exhaust pipe, should be checked.

When working with devices that involve combustion (for example, with a gas burner or electric welding machine), use ventilation in rooms without ventilation.

Spend as little time as possible near busy freeways.

When spending the night in the garage or separately standing car– make sure that the engine is switched off.

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Carbon monoxide poisoning (carbon dioxide poisoning) is acute pathology, which develops when toxic carbon monoxide enters the body. Without the provision of fast, qualified first aid and high-quality medical treatment carbon monoxide poisoning in the presence of primary symptoms, this problem often leads to death.

How exactly does carbon monoxide affect the body? What are the first symptoms of poisoning? What first aid can be given to the victim? You will read about this and much more in our article.

How does carbon monoxide affect the body?

Carbon monoxide is a special form of carbon monoxide and is most often formed during the incomplete combustion of various substances containing classical carbon. AT modern conditions, the vast majority of it is formed by the exhaust gases of cars with an internal combustion engine, but there are also household and natural springs CO production.

Carbon monoxide itself, odorless and colorless, has good penetrating power, it easily seeps through the soil, partitions and even thin walls, while it is not absorbed by most simple porous materials, which makes the use of standard gas masks based on an atmospheric air filtration system ineffective (with the exception of complexes with the possibility of installing a hopkalite cartridge).

The main danger of CO for the body lies in the triple pathological effect of carbon monoxide on a number of systemically important processes:

• Blocking the delivery of oxygen to tissues and organs. CO actively interacts with blood hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin compounds, as a result of which erythrocyte masses partially or completely cease to carry oxygen to organs and tissues, which provokes almost instantaneous hypoxia;
• Violation of the heart muscle. CO binds to myoglobin, which leads to a deterioration in heart function with characteristic manifestations- weakening of the pulse, the appearance of shortness of breath and arrhythmia;
• Formation muscle weakness. Carbon monoxide pathologically affects protein structures smooth muscle, which leads to their weakness, sometimes partial or even complete paralysis of the skeletal muscles.

Early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

As modern medical statistics show, a person usually gets CO poisoning during prolonged inhalation of vehicle exhaust gases, especially in enclosed spaces, as well as in everyday life against the background of improper operation of heating devices operating on the principles of combustion, due to leakage of household gas, and so on.

A significant proportion of cases are associated with fires in enclosed spaces., transport wagons, airplanes, and so on, when a person dies not from thermal exposure as such, but due to very rapid CO poisoning with loss of consciousness and the lack of the possibility of self-evacuation.

The primary symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning directly depend on its concentration in the air, as well as the duration of exposure to CO on the body.

As the concentration of carbon monoxide in the blood increases, the following manifestations are noted:

• Decrease in the speed of psychomotor reactions;
• Performance degradation– both physical and mental;
• Dyspnea;
• Headache , increasing in intensity depending on the concentration of CO in the blood;
• Nausea, weakness, vomiting;
• Confusion and impaired coordination of small movements;
• The formation of hallucinations, semi-conscious or fainting, weakening of the pulse.

The above primary symptoms characteristic of light and moderate degrees of poisoning. In severe forms of pathology, the indicated symptoms can be combined and changed almost at lightning speed.

The main symptoms of poisoning

The main symptomatic complex of carbon monoxide intoxication includes a wide variety of negative manifestations.

Mild and moderate degree of intoxication

Mild and moderate forms of pathology (with a carboxyhemoglobin content in the blood from 20 to 50 percent), depending on the location of the lesion. Symptoms of mild to moderate carbon monoxide poisoning include:

• From the side of the central nervous system. A headache of a girdle character, at first mild, and later - of moderate strength and intensity. There may also be tinnitus, a decrease in the quality of vision and hearing, nausea with vomiting, impaired coordination of movement, blurred consciousness and its short-term loss. The above manifestations are almost always primary, since it is the central nervous system that first suffers from intoxication;
• . Increased heart rate, up to 90 beats per minute. Pain and pressure in the region of the heart, arrhythmia. These symptoms are formed by feedback at intensive work a heart trying to clear the bloodstream of carboxyhemoglobin and improve oxygen delivery to all body systems;
• . Mostly shortness of breath and rapid breathing. With a mild and moderate degree of poisoning, compensation mechanisms still operate as a back response of the body to a progressive lack of oxygen. This is the main symptom of such poisoning;
• From the side skin and mucous membranes. Their redness is observed, which is the result of increased blood flow velocity.

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Severe degree of intoxication

As a rule, the lack of fast and correct in severe forms of carbon monoxide poisoning is fatal.

Symptoms of severe carbon monoxide poisoning:

• From the side of the central nervous system. Long term losses consciousness, convulsions, uncontrolled defecation and urination, coma. Formed at deep lesions nervous structures;
• From the side of cardio-vascular system . Increased heart rate, up to 130 beats per minute, while it is weakly palpable. severe arrhythmia against the background of a significant increase in the risk of myocardial infarction (with a complete stop of oxygen delivery to the heart muscle);
• From the side respiratory system . intermittent and shallow breathing caused by systemic lesion the center of regulation of this function in the brain against the background of the development of generalized decompensation processes;
• From the skin and mucous membranes. Paleness of these structures due to a deep violation of oxygen supply to peripheral systems.

Symptoms in atypical forms of poisoning

In some cases, carbon monoxide poisoning is diagnosed atypical symptoms with a special development mechanism:

Complications and consequences

In addition to pathological symptoms directly in the process of poisoning, the victim may develop various complications post-reactive period, even with the timely and complete provision of both first pre-medical and subsequent inpatient and resuscitation care.

Short term

Most of the consequences described below are formed 1-2 days after carbon dioxide poisoning:

• CNS. Nervous peripheral lesions with limitation motor activity and sensitivity, constant pain syndrome in the head area, cerebral edema, malfunctions of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system, development of new and progression of chronic mental illness, impaired vision and hearing;
• Respiratory system. Pulmonary edema;
• The cardiovascular system. Violation of the coronary circulation and rhythm of the heart;

Medium term

Most of the consequences described below are formed 2-30 days after carbon monoxide poisoning:

• CNS, paralysis, various choreas. Systemic psychoses with memory loss, alternating with bouts of apathy, are also diagnosed. Less often - blindness and parkinsonism;
• Respiratory system. Secondary pneumonia of a bacterial type, obstructive bronchitis;
• The cardiovascular system. Myocarditis, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiac asthma.

First aid

Timely and qualified provision of the first first aid in the overwhelming majority of cases, in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, it saves the life of the victim and significantly reduces the risks of developing numerous complications in the post-reactive period of the pathology.

The basic algorithm of first aid actions:

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Carbon monoxide is a poisonous substance that affects all body systems, which can lead to serious consequences and even death. This gas is dangerous because it does not manifest itself in any way either in color or in smell. Easily penetrates soil, walls and other materials.

Carbon monoxide is formed by the incomplete combustion of any organic matter. Poisoning with it can be obtained in fires, with improper operation or malfunction. gas stoves and heaters, when staying indoors with a running car engine, in industries where gas is used for the reaction of the synthesis of substances.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can vary depending on the concentration of the substance and the period of exposure to the body. According to these indicators and the symptoms that have arisen, 3 forms of poisoning can be distinguished: mild, moderate and severe. Mainly signs negative impact manifest from the side of the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory systems, as well as the skin.

The cardiovascular system

First of all, carbon monoxide affects blood cells, because of this it is often called "blood poison".

AT normal condition red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body using hemoglobin (a special protein). Once in the blood, carbon monoxide acts on hemoglobin, forming a new compound with it - carboxyhemoglobin. It, in turn, is detrimental to all vital organs, since it does not allow hemoglobin to supply oxygen. In this regard, the entire body experiences oxygen starvation.

With mild and moderate carbon monoxide poisoning, signs from the cardiovascular system will be expressed as follows:

• Rapid pulse and heartbeat;
• Pain, pressing character behind the sternum in the region of the heart, indicate that the heart muscle lacks oxygen.

With a severe degree of intoxication, a person will feel the following symptoms:

• Strongly fast pulse - up to 130 beats per minute, while it is difficult to listen to it;
• Due to lack of oxygen to the heart muscle, there is big risk development of myocardial infarction.

Rapid heartbeats occur due to the fact that the body is trying to compensate for the lack of oxygen, more intense cardiac activity.

central nervous system

Nerve cells and the brain are most sensitive to oxygen deficiency. That's why primary signs carbon monoxide poisoning will manifest itself precisely from the nervous system.

With mild and moderate poisoning, the following symptoms will appear:

More severe neurological symptoms appear during a deep impact on the nervous structures, while the person will experience:

• loss of consciousness;
• Coma;
• The appearance of seizures
• Urination or defecation against will.

Respiratory and skin manifestations

Carbon monoxide intoxication can be identified by respiratory function person. If intoxication has occurred insignificant, then the victim begins to breathe often due to the fact that he does not have enough oxygen, there is shortness of breath.

In severe poisoning, breathing becomes superficial, may be interrupted for a while.

On the part of the skin and mucous membranes, there is a change in their color. If a slight poisoning occurs, then the skin of the face and head becomes unusually red. This is due to the fact that the resulting carboxyhemoglobin makes the blood redder. You should also pay attention to the skin in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe hands. At serious condition, the skin, on the contrary, becomes pale with a faint pinkish blush.

Atypical symptoms of poisoning

Against the background of intoxication, when the body is damaged by carbon monoxide, atypical symptoms may develop for this case. Based on these symptoms, the following forms of poisoning are distinguished:

1. Fainting. The victim has a sharp decrease blood pressure, the skin becomes pale, he loses consciousness.
2. Euphoric - affects the psycho emotional condition sick. It develops due to the influence toxic substance to nerve cells. At the same time, a person may experience strong arousal, which affects his motor skills, see hallucinations, carry nonsense, not navigate in space and time. With this form, there is a high risk of death. Often such a death is called "sweet", since a person does not experience pain, is in a state of euphoria and simply falls asleep.

There is also a lightning-fast form of intoxication. It occurs when the content of carbon monoxide in the room exceeds 1.2% per 1 cubic meter. A lethal outcome occurs within 2 minutes after a person inhales this gas. Death occurs due to respiratory paralysis.

Signs of chronic intoxication

Chronic carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in workers whose activities are associated with contact with this substance and long-term inhalation of low concentrations of gas.

The patient complains of frequent headaches, noise in the head, general weakness, insomnia, loss of appetite, decreased visual acuity, loss of sensitivity of certain areas of the skin. There are constant dizziness, pain in the heart, shortness of breath.

From the side of the central nervous system, asthenia may develop. Chronic intoxication contributes to the development of atherosclerosis, or its progression, if a person suffered from this pathology before poisoning.

In women, it may be disturbed menstrual cycle, it is difficult to undergo pregnancy, in men - a decrease in sexual function.

Also, in victims with concomitant tuberculosis, disease progression is observed, defensive forces organism.

Frequent manifestations of chronic poisoning are disorders from endocrine system, in particular, theriotoxicosis develops.

Development rate and intensity chronic symptoms in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, they depend on the individual characteristics of the body and the presence of concomitant diseases.

Who is at risk

Some people are more exposed to carbon monoxide than others. The following categories of people are more prone to intoxication:

Also, if there are pets in the house, they can be the first to notify that there is a danger of poisoning, since they will initially show symptoms. How less weight body, the sooner intoxication occurs after inhalation of carbon monoxide.

If the pet suddenly began to show malaise or died for no good reason, you should urgently open the windows and check the room for gas leaks.

First aid

If the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are confirmed, the treatment and its outcome will depend on the timely and correct first aid provided to the victim. To help a person, you first need to call an ambulance, while she is traveling, carry out a number of activities:

1. Remove the patient from the lesion to clean air.
2. If the person is unconscious, lay him down with his head turned to the side and try to bring him to his senses with the help of ammonia.
3. If the victim is conscious, you need to vigorously rub his whole body, give him a drink hot drink. If the poisoning is severe, apply a cold compress to the chest and head.
4. If breathing is not felt, you need to try to start this function. Artificial respiration done through a moistened handkerchief or gauze to avoid poisoning a healthy person.
5. If there is no pulse, before arrival medical workers required indirect massage hearts.

When the first signs of intoxication appear, you should in any case consult a doctor, even if the symptoms are not significant. After all, it is difficult to determine for yourself what concentration of gas has entered the body and how long its effect lasts.