Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that can cause serious illness if breathed in.
While most modern appliances are designed to prevent it from leaking out into the air, this can still occur.
Its effect on the human body can also depend on the level of carbon monoxide you are exposed to, with low level symptoms easily mistaken for other problems.
While they might not seem like something to be worried about, if you experience any of the milder signs you need to act fast.
One expert took to YouTube to share some of the warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Doctor James O’Donovan explained: “Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can make you seriously ill if you breathe it in.
“And some common household appliances that are used for heating and cooking can produce it especially if they’re not installed properly, they’re faulty or they’re poorly maintained.
“These are things like gas boilers, cookers, gas or paraffin heaters as well as portable generators.
“Also with the cost of heating ever increasing you might be tempted to use barbecues or camping stoves inside but don’t do this because this can also cause a build-up of carbon monoxide.”
Symptoms
According to Dr O’Donovan, “brief” exposure to low levels of carbon monoxide could cause:
- Dizziness
- Flushing
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Nausea/vomiting
- Personality changes
- Vertigo.
He said: “With exposure to higher levels of carbon monoxide symptoms might be more severe.”
These can include:
- Confusion
- Movement problems
- Respiratory failure
- Loss of consciousness
- Heart attacks
- Death.
He continued: “So as you can see many of the symptoms can be quite vague especially with the low levels of exposure.
“They’re not necessarily specific to carbon monoxide poisoning.”
He shared a useful acronym that can help determine whether symptoms are caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
This acronym is “coma”.
Co-occupants: You want to ask a person you suspect of carbon monoxide poisoning if anyone else in their house is affected if they are this may raise suspicions of a possible carbon monoxide leak now.
Outdoors: You should ask the person if their symptoms improve when they’re out of the building, if they do then you may suspect a possible carbon monoxide leak from a device such as a faulty boiler or cook it in the home.
Maintenance: The risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is much higher if their fuel burning appliances and vents aren’t properly maintained
Alarm: You should always ask the person if they have a functioning carbon monoxide alarm.
If you think you have carbon monoxide poisoning, the NHS advice is to:
- Stop using appliances you think might be making carbon monoxide (such as a boiler, cooker or heater) if you can
- Open any windows and doors to let fresh air in
- Go outside
- Get medical advice as soon as possible – do not go back into the affected building until you have got advice.