Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
10:44
Comparing the Effects of Electronic Cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in a Novel In Vivo Exposure System
Published on: May 24, 2017
Recurrent carbon monoxide poisoning from cigarette smoking
Soumitra Sen1, Carrie Peltz, Jennifer Beard
1Department of Internal Medicine, Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA. Soumitrasen.1983@gmail.com
The American Journal of the Medical Sciences
|August 27, 2010
Summary
Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious health risk, causing many emergency visits annually. This case highlights unusually high carboxyhemoglobin levels in a heavy smoker, exceeding typical ranges.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is a significant public health concern in the US, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality.
- Common sources include vehicle exhaust, faulty heating systems, and smoke inhalation.
- Tobacco use is known to increase carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in a dose-dependent manner.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old female patient with a history of substantial tobacco abuse presented for medical evaluation.
- The patient exhibited exceptionally high carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels.
Findings:
- The patient's COHb levels reached as high as 24.2%.
- This level is considerably higher than the generally accepted range of <10% to 15% for heavy smokers.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for extreme COHb levels in individuals with heavy tobacco use.
- Clinicians should consider elevated COHb levels in smokers, even when symptoms are not immediately apparent.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the upper limits of COHb in chronic smokers.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Acute Respiratory Failure-III
Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without causing...
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is defined as a heterogeneous lung condition marked by persistent respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and sputum production, caused by abnormalities in the airways that cause airflow obstruction.
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:23Hypoxia
Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
01:23Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common, preventable, and treatable respiratory disorder characterized by persistent symptoms and progressive airflow limitation. This limitation results from a combination of small-airway disease (obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal destruction (emphysema), both driven by chronic inflammation from exposure to harmful particles or gases.The disease includes two main pathological entities: emphysema, marked by destruction of alveolar walls and...
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...
01:23Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
Emphysema, a major phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is characterized by irreversible destruction of alveolar walls and permanent enlargement of distal airspaces. Unlike chronic bronchitis, which primarily affects the airways, emphysema predominantly involves the lung parenchyma, where structural damage leads to airflow limitation.PathophysiologyIt most commonly results from prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke and other toxic gases, particularly cigarette smoke.