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Carbon dioxide poisoning 'flu symptoms': Can you recognize a real crisis?
Carbon oxide (CO) poisoning is a potentially fatal condition usually caused by breathing in excess carbon dioxide, with symptoms often mistaken for "flu symptoms." These symptoms include headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, chest pain and confusion, which prevents many people from seeking medical help in time when they suffer from poisoning. Studies show that more than 20,000 Americans go to emergency rooms each year for carbon monoxide poisoning, and it has become one of the most common fatal poisonings in many countries.
“In the winter, cases of carbon monoxide poisoning increase significantly due to the use of equipment such as heaters and generators.”
Sources of Carbon Oxides
Carbon oxides are produced by the combustion of organic matter, especially under conditions of insufficient oxygen supply. It commonly comes from car exhaust, malfunctioning heating equipment, wood cooking stoves, and power generation equipment used in homes and industries. Since carbon oxides are colorless and odorless, this makes them difficult to detect in low-level exposure situations.
Symptoms of poisoning
The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often similar to those of the flu, including headache, nausea, fatigue, and anxiety. As the poisoning progresses, the functions of the heart and central nervous system will be damaged, and symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, confusion and even coma. These symptoms are often mistaken for food poisoning or other viral infections in the emergency department setting.
"Headache is the most common symptom of acute carbon monoxide poisoning and is often described as dull and constant."
The danger of acute poisoning
It is noteworthy that the mortality rate of acute carbon monoxide poisoning is quite high, especially in those cases that are not diagnosed and treated promptly. According to reports, in severe poisoning cases, the carbon monoxide concentration in the blood can reach more than 30%, while the carbon monoxide concentration in the blood of deceased patients often exceeds 50%. This makes timely inspection and intervention crucial.
Long-term effects and preventive measures
Long-term exposure to carbon oxides may lead to chronic fatigue, memory impairment, and motor dysfunction. Therefore, it is very necessary to install a carbon oxide detector, whether in a home or industrial setting. In addition, ensuring good ventilation and regularly checking equipment are also important means of preventing poisoning.
“Prevention is an important issue in public health and public awareness of safe operation of equipment must be raised.”
Pay attention to the diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning
Diagnosing carbon monoxide poisoning is often difficult because many conditions have similar symptoms. In addition to taking medical history, testing the carbon monoxide level in the blood is one of the main methods for diagnosis. In most cases, the carbon monoxide level in a non-smoker's blood should be less than 3%, while that in a smoker may be as high as 10%.
Seeking Solutions
Faced with such hidden dangers, prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning is particularly important. In addition to installing detectors and making a habit of regularly checking facilities in your home, you also need to be careful not to use internal combustion machinery in enclosed spaces. In addition, conducting diversified data monitoring can also help further reduce the risk of poisoning.
However, after learning about the wide variety of flu symptoms, have we learned how to distinguish the real danger from the common flu?
