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Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

When you breathe, oxygen moves from the lungs to the blood. Hemoglobin in the red blood cells carries the oxygen throughout the body.

When a person inhales carbon monoxide, it begins to replace the oxygen in the blood. Without oxygen, cells throughout the body die and the organs stop working.

Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney, MD
- Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD
- Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP
- Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology
Last Updated April 14, 2006

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: April 14, 2006
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