In the United States, 26.2 million men (23.5 percent) and 20.9 million women (18.1 percent) are smokers. The normal level of Carbon Monoxide in a nonsmoker is between 0 and 8 parts per million.A smoker with 10 cigarettes per day has a Carbon Monoxide level of about 20 parts per million. 20 Cigarettes per day raises this level 40 parts per million.
Carboxyhemoglobin is a compound formed when the cigarette smoke is taken in. This compound stops the flow of oxygen rich blood in the various parts of the body. This causes various organs in our body to over function. This article tries to gain further insight in to this deadly by product of cigarette smoke.
Statistics of Carboxyhemoglobin and Associated Health Risks:
| S.No. | Concentration in Blood (%) | Health Risks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | 15-20 | Mild Headache and Tiredness |
| 2. | 20-30 | Severe Headache, Blurred Vision and Irritation |
| 3. | 30-40 | Severe Muscle Weakness, Vomitting Sensation and Mental Confusion | 4. | 40-50 | Abnormal Heart Beats and associated problems | 5. | 50-60 | Acute Shortness of Breathe | 6. | 60-70 and Above | Coma, Failue of lungs and heart, Death |
What is Carboxyhemoglobin?
- The cigarette smoke contains a colorless and odorless poisonous gas called Carbon Monoxide.
- When this toxic substance is taken inside the body, it is absorbed by the blood.
- The Red Blood Cells of the blood tightly unite with this gas molecules 240 times faster than oxygen.
- In this way it reaches all the vital organs of the body and stop the availability of oxygen to these organs.
- The pollution in the air is another source of carbon monoxide entering our body.
- In non smokers, this gas stays for about 40 minutes.
- The lungs by this time effectively ejects this gas out of our body.
- But in smokers, it stays for 4 to 6 hours and hinders the functions of the vital organs of the body.
- Death can also occur because of poisoning of the blood by Carbon Monoxide.
