Carbon Monoxide Poisoning


Factors That Exacerbate CO Poisoning:

Environmental:

  • High CO concentrations in the atmosphere
  • Prolonged duration of exposure
  • Exposure in the presence of hypoxia, e.g. altitude above 1500 meters
  • Exposure during exercise, work
  • Simultaneous exposure to other toxic agents (CN, CO2, etc.)
  • Acute exposure of persons after chronically high COHb levels (?)

    In the Normal Individual:

  • Pregnancy
  • Life in Utero (fetal condition)
  • Old age
  • Male sex (?)
  • A state of high athletic training (?)

    Pathological Conditions:

  • Other pre-existing medical disorders
  • Heart failure, cardiomyopathy, etc.
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Cerebral ischemia
  • Emphysema, COPD, other chronic lung disease
  • Anemia
  • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Fever
  • Diabetes, elevated blood glucose
  • Hypovolemia


    ..... Last changed 03/20/02


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