Carbon monoxide leaves smokers in an oxygen debt

We hang carbon monoxide detectors in our homes to alert us to unsafe amounts of this odorless gas in the air. However, carbon monoxide is also released into the body through smoking. When someone smokes cigarettes, carbon monoxide enters the blood stream, and available oxygen to vital organs and tissues is diminished.

Carbon monoxide all too cleverly binds with red blood cells better than oxygen, making the blood thicker, and causing the heart to work harder to pump blood through the body. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and difficulty exercising are some of the signs that our heart, lungs, and brain are running in an oxygen debt.

“Smoking is a hard habit to quit, but there are resources to help,” says Amy McClary, BSN, RN. If you’re thinking about quitting, the Maine Tobacco QuitLink can answer your questions and offer friendly support. To learn more, call 1.800.207.1230 or visit thequitlink.com.

Smokers’ reduced oxygen supply and thicker blood significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and developing lung cancer. “Our Lung Cancer Screening Program can help patients who smoke learn more about their lung health with a low dose CT,” continues Amy.

Once someone quits smoking, improvements happen as early as 12 hours later, when the level of carbon monoxide in the blood drops back to normal, and in two weeks, lung function improves. Fast-forward 15 years without smoking and see what happens: