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Have you heard the story of ‘cherry red skin’? Is this really what carbon monoxide poisoning looks like?
Carbon oxide poisoning is a potentially fatal condition that occurs in many different settings. While we typically hear about the various symptoms and effects of carbon oxide poisoning, the theory of "cherry red skin" has been widely discussed. Can this legend really be used to identify carbon oxide poisoning?
What are carbon oxides?
Carbon oxides (CO) are colorless and odorless gases produced when organic matter burns incompletely in the absence of oxygen. Unlike other toxic substances, carbon oxides combine with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which hinders the blood's ability to transport oxygen.
Symptoms of carbon oxide poisoning
Initial symptoms of carbon oxide poisoning are often described as cold-like, including headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea and chest pain. These symptoms are often mistaken for the flu.
“Many people fail to recognize carbon oxide poisoning immediately when it first attacks, which often results in missing the best opportunity for treatment.”
More severe cases can cause loss of consciousness, irregular heartbeat, and even death. Carbon oxide poisoning will more or less affect the central nervous system and the heart, the two organ systems with the highest oxygen demand. Although "cherry red skin" is an example of classic poisoning, it is actually uncommon in living people and is usually only seen after death at autopsy.
Why does carbon oxide poisoning occur?
When we use equipment such as gas stoves, heaters or generators, especially in conditions with poor ventilation, there may be a risk of carbon oxide poisoning. According to health reports, approximately 40,000 people in the United States seek medical help for carbon oxide poisoning each year, and more than 400 people die from related poisoning in the United States each year.
Measures to prevent carbon oxide poisoning
To prevent carbon oxide poisoning, one of the most effective measures is to install carbon oxide detectors. These detectors can sound an alarm when toxic gases are detected, allowing occupants to evacuate in time.
“Carbon oxide detectors, like smoke detectors, are critical to the safety of every home.”
Treatment of carbon oxide poisoning
Treatment of carbon oxide poisoning usually involves providing 100% oxygen therapy to help remove COHb from the body until symptoms disappear and the blood COHb concentration drops to a safe range (usually less than 3% in non-smokers). If poisoning occurs accidentally, the sooner you seek medical treatment, the better the prognosis is usually.
Social impact and awareness
The social impact of carbon oxide poisoning cannot be underestimated, and the incidence of such poisoning incidents is higher in winter, especially during power outages, when people are more likely to rely on portable generators, etc., increasing the risk of poisoning.
"An average of 500 people in the United States die from unintentional carbon oxide poisoning every year, and suicides caused by this poison also occur from time to time."
Conclusion
Although "cherry red skin" is a classic sign of carbon oxide poisoning, in fact it is extremely rare. Most of the symptoms can often be misdiagnosed as other diseases in the early stages, which also highlights the importance of people's awareness of carbon oxide poisoning. How can we increase our alertness to this potential threat?
