Q: Until recently, my blood pressure stayed around 135/75. About two weeks ago, my blood pressure suddenly shot up to 188/90. My doctor increased the doses of my blood pressure pills. But my systolic pressure is still around 170. Why would my blood pressure have increased so suddenly when I hadn't really changed anything? Is 170 systolic OK given my diastolic pressure is 80? A: One of the mysteries of blood pressure is that it can rise or fall without any obvious changes in your life.
The level of CO concentration is measured using a system called Parts Per Million (PPM). For example, 100 PPM CO means that for every 999,900 molecules of air, there are 100 molecules of CO. CO effects people differently depending on the concentration.
Carbon Dioxide, on the other hand, cannot form COHb to inhibit the transport of oxygen, though high levels can be toxic, but through a different process. Toxic levels of carbon dioxide are less likely to be produced in natural circumstances, but OSHA (in the United States) has set limits and regulations on the handling and safe exposure to it. Carbon Monoxide is deadly at only 0.04% atmosphere concentration, while Carbon Dioxide not considered deadly until much higher concentration of 5%. Both CO and CO2 are toxic to aerobic animal life (oxygen-breathers), because both block the absorbtion of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is just more potent.