Doctor Ranj Singhsaid there’s a “classic” sign that can tell the two apart
Doctor Ranj Singh, a regular on BBC Morning Live, has warned that the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are quite similar to the flu, but there’s a “classic” sign that can tell the two apart. Speaking on the show, the author and doctor said that there are symptoms he wants people to look out for and things people need to do as soon as possible.
The health guru explains: “Carbon monoxide is a clear, colourless, odourless gas that’s produced when you burn any fuel inefficiently. We’re using appliances that rely on that sort of thing at this time of year to keep warm but the problem is it has a serious risk to our health.”
What are the symptoms carbon monoxide poisoning?
The doctor warns: “The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are actually quite similar to flu. And the cold and flu are quite common at this time of year, which is why it’s so important to be aware.”
The symptoms he wants people to look out for include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Feeling sick
- Being sick
- Confusion
- Feeling weak
- Chest and muscle pain
- shortness of breath
What is the difference between the flu and carbon monoxide poisoning?
The expert further warns that there are a few differences between the flu and carbon monoxide poisoning that you need to look out for if you are worried. He says: “The difference is that the symptoms of carbon monoxide will come and go – especially if you’re going in and outdoors.
“So if you’re going home and getting the symptoms, you’ve really got to think about carbon monoxide poisoning. The other key difference to remember from cold and flu is that with carbon monoxide poisoning you won’t get nasal congestion, you won’t get that blocked, stuffy nose and you won’t get a fever – so that is a classic tail tail sign.”
In another clue, he says you need to ask yourself about who is affected and when. “Ask yourself are others being affected at the same time or same place as me”, he says, “particularly pets because pets will be affected by carbon monoxide poisoning as well. So if the whole household is feeling unwell, you’ve really got to think about it.”
Can I have carbon monoxide poisoning and not know it?
Yes, you can be exposed to carbon monoxide for a very long time and not realise it but it will have an effect on you, the doctor reveals. He says: “What carbon monoxide does is that binds to haemoglobin which is a molecule in red blood cells which carries oxygen.
“When carbon monoxide binds to it, it binds 100 times more tightly than oxygen can so it displaces all of the oxygen so your body can carry oxygen around – and that’s never a good thing.”
Because of this, you may suffer from things like:
- brain damage
- heart problems
- death
He adds that if you’ve been “exposed for a long time” you may feel “chronically unwell without realising it”. And you will not know until you seek medical help.
Am I at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?
You are at higher risk if:
- you’ve got heart disease
- if you’ve got vascular disease
- if you’re pregnant
- if you’re a child
- if you’ve got respiratory conditions like asthma
What should I do if I think I have carbon monoxide poisoning?
The expert warns that you need to stop the appliance that you think is responsible, open the window, get outside and call 111 or 999 if it’s an emergency. If it’s a gas appliance make sure you ring the national gas helpline on 0800 111 999.
The doctor says: “You are probably going to have to seek medical help. Most people need to go to hospital.
“We’ve got a test that we can do to check markers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the therapy is high flow oxygen therapy to displace that carbon monoxide out of the blood and get the oxygen back in. And obviously you can’t go back home until the appliance has been sorted out.” Thankfully most people make a full recovery so it’s crucial to get alarms fitted, he says, as well as to seek help as soon as possible.
