Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

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Carbon monoxide is a gaseous compound composed of two elements carbon and oxygen. The gas is formed due to the incomplete combustion of organic matter, especially fuel. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a situation where the inhaled amount exceeds the acceptable levels and cause undesired effects to ones body. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when molecules displace oxygen in the blood. The heart, brain and other important body organs are deprived of the much-needed oxygen (Gorman, 2003).

When large quantities of carbon monoxide are inhaled, it can overcome the respiratory system within a few minutes leading to suffocation. In other circumstances, victims may lose consciousness (Gorman, 2003). When a person is exposed to sufficient amounts of carbon monoxide, several other physiological effects occur. One may experience dizziness, vomiting, headache and tightness across the chest. Muscle, oxygen storage in the body is impaired. Low levels of carbon monoxide can lead to mild effects on the heart, cardiovascular system and brain. As a result, victims may vomit and feel dizziness.

Other victims eventually collapse if there is acute poisoning. The victims muscles become weak when there is prolonged exposure. The effects are severe when victims are young, elderly, people of high altitude, people who have heart or lung disease and those with higher levels of carbon monoxide in their blood. According to Gorman, Drewry, Huang and Sames (2003), heart muscle damage occurs when there is acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Victims who survive the poisonings are exposed to long term risks.

Jacks carbon monoxide poisoning is signified by an increased heartbeat rate. Poor supply of oxygen to the heart and other body tissues increased its demand. The body responded by increasing the Heartbeat rate to try to get the much-needed oxygen. The reduced body temperatures can be attributed to disruption of the endocrine system. The disrupted endocrine system may have caused several anomalies in Jacks body due to its failure to produce the right quantities of hormones at the right time.

Blood pressure increased due to the increased heartbeat rate. Jacks body system tried to restore its normal operation and oxygen deficiency after poisoning. Since the chances of improving oxygen content in blood were low, the heart was forced to beat faster to drive blood. This resulted in an increase in blood pressure to 120/90.

Jack became confused because of poor activity and response by his nervous system. Disruption of the endocrine system led to poor production and release of hormones which caused both temperature reduction and increased heartbeat per minute (Gorman, 2003). The same poor production and release of hormones may have led the body to have poor control which caused the confusion and quietness which was seen by Jacks neighbor.

Several pieces of evidence signify carbon monoxide poisoning in Jacks condition. Pain across the chest which he experienced is a common symptom to all victims of carbon dioxide poisoning. Since the pain experienced occurred to him after using kerosene in his house, it was clear evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. A high level of carbon monoxide exposure affects the respiratory system. Lungs are normally affected more than other body organs. As a result, victims experience chest pains.

Confusion and disorientation were evident. When he was found outside the house by his neighbor, Jack was confused. Due to the high consumption of carbon monoxide, Jacks central nervous system was significantly impaired. Acute poisoning normally causes dizziness, vomiting, coma, confusion and muscle weakness (Gorman, 2003). For jacks case, confusion was the main evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning which affected the nervous system severely (Raub et al. 2000).

The carboxyhemoglobin level reached 40%. This signified that Jack had acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Naturally, carbon monoxide has a high affinity to hemoglobin. When inhaled, it is absorbed in place of oxygen easily. When a considerable percentage has been absorbed, poisoning occurs. This is one of the main laboratory evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning which was seen in Jack.

Jacks heartbeat rate increased to 90 beats per minute. Normally the heartbeat is faster when the body needs more supply of oxygen. When a person inhales carbon monoxide, his or her body becomes deficient in oxygen. According to Raub, Mathieu-Nolf, Hampson and Thom (2000), the heartbeat rate is higher when the body wants to increase oxygen supply. Increased heartbeat rates together with other symptoms are evidence of carbon monoxide poisoning. High blood pressure is caused by high rates of heartbeat per minute. This was one of the pieces of evidence which signified that Jack had carbon dioxide poisoning.

Being a man, the hematocrit in Jack was relatively low. The highest level of Hematocrit for men is 57% and the lowest is 40%. This means that the percentage of red blood cells in blood was low but not below the minimum required for a healthy person. Carbon monoxide poisoning reduced the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. The body responded by an increasing generation of red blood cells because of the chronic poisoning (Raub et al. 2000). This is clear evidence of poisoning in Jacks system.

Due to the poor supply of oxygen into Jacks body tissues, a continuous reduction of oxygen content in alveolar air occurred. At the same time, oxygen tension in veins and arteries continued to fall. As a result, a hypoxia state occurred. Diminutions of alveolar PO₂ induced hypoxia. Because of the above condition, blood saturation occurred in arteries to reach normal content of oxygen. This is because blood moving from the lungs to the heart had more oxygen as compared to blood moving from the heart to the lungs.

Poisoning had occurred hours earlier which increased carboxyhemoglobin levels to 40%. When Jack was exposed to fresh air, he inhaled oxygen which was immediately absorbed by the blood. However, the carbon monoxide inhaled earlier was still present in blood at the time of tests (Raub et al. 2000) Therefore, results showed a considerable amount of carboxyhemoglobin. Blood taken to various body tissues had normal oxygen levels but veins exhibited hypoxia.

Jacks 40% percent hemoglobin level signifies that the poisoning was acute. This level may have resulted in several acute and delayed onset of neurological impairment effects. Here, poisoning was exhibited by confusion and chest pain. If this level had increased slightly, Jack would have died.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be treated through several processes. The first step is to remove the victim from the area where he or she has been poisoned and taken to an aerated place (Raub et al. 2000). The second step is to give the victim oxygen therapy. This can be administered as 100% oxygen using a tight fitting mask in a health facility. However, if the victim is not breathing, oxygen therapy should be administered using a machine which increases the rate of inhaling. In some severe cases, a victim can be put under hyperbaric oxygen therapy where this full body is put in a chamber which uses oxygen under pressure (Buckley et al. 2001). This method helps to remove carbon monoxide faster out of the victims body.

Works Cited

Buckley, Nick A, Juurlink David, Isbister Geoff, Bennett Michael, and Lavonas J. Eric. Hyperbaric Oxygen for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. The Cochrane Library 4.1 (2011): 4-43. Print.

Gorman Des, Drewry Alison, Huang Lin, and Sames Chris. The Clinical Toxicology of Carbon Monoxide. Toxicology 187.1 (2003): 2538. Print.

Raub, Jean A, Mathieu-Nolf Matt, Hampson Neill, Thom Sir. Carbon monoxide poisoning-a public health perspective. Toxicology 145.1 (2000): 114. Print.

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Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

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