What does it feel like to have carbon monoxide poisoning?

As a medical professional with expertise in toxicology, I can describe the experience of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning based on clinical observations and patient reports. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be insidious because it often presents with symptoms that are similar to those of the common flu, which can lead to delayed recognition and treatment. The initial symptoms typically include headache, dizziness, and weakness. As exposure to CO increases, these symptoms can progress to upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. The confusion can be significant, leading to disorientation and difficulty making rational decisions, which can be dangerous in situations where immediate action is required to escape the source of CO. In severe cases, CO poisoning can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. This is because CO binds to hemoglobin in the blood more effectively than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The heart and brain are particularly sensitive to this lack of oxygen, which can result in serious and sometimes irreversible damage. It's important to note that CO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, which makes it extremely difficult to detect without the use of a CO detector. Therefore, it's crucial to have a working CO detector in your home and to understand the symptoms of CO poisoning to prevent tragedy.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as ��flu-like.�� If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you.