Carbon Monoxide Poisoning May Kill Years Later

Posted on January 24, 2006

MSNBC.com reports that a new study has found that people that survive a large exposure to carbon monoxide may still die years later because of damage to the heart muscle.

People who survive a toxic encounter with carbon monoxide, one of the most common types of accidental poisoning in the United States, run a risk of death years later because of damaged heart muscle, according to a study published Tuesday.
The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation said a look at 230 patients treated for moderate to severe poisoning from the colorless, odorless gas found that 37 percent suffered heart muscle injury. Of that group nearly a quarter died within the next seven years.
"Most of us believed that since this was a one-time exposure to carbon monoxide, that if you were going to have problems you'd have them right away," said Timothy Henry, a physician involved in the study.

The study also recommends that people who have had this type of incident should visit their physician to test for heart damage. The study raises questions about long term risk as well. Although the study did not investigate risk from carbon monoxide exposure in small amounts over a long period of time it does raise questions about the effect pollution has on the heart. There was a study in 2003 that linked air pollution and heart problems -- it even said that air pollution is more of a heart risk than a lung risk.

HEALTH