Man in grave danger due to carbon monoxide poisoning: 26-year-old victim falls ill after consuming shisha, caused by a defective water pipe
In a recent incident in the town of Muhlacker, a 26-year-old man is currently in a life-threatening condition due to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning from a shisha pipe.
The couple was smoking shisha together in their apartment on Rappstraße late on Tuesday evening. They smoked the water pipe and went to bed around midnight, leaving the shisha pipe in the kitchen. The woman woke up in the early hours of Wednesday morning when her husband was having a seizure.
Upon realising the severity of the situation, she immediately called the emergency services. The rescue team's carbon monoxide alarms went off during the man's medical treatment, causing everyone to evacuate the apartment and the fire department to be called.
The treating doctors suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, and the man was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Other residents of the house were able to return to their homes after a short time, but some had to temporarily leave their apartments as a precaution.
The shisha pipe is currently being secured as evidence, as it is assumed to be the cause of the elevated carbon monoxide levels. It's important to note that carbon monoxide (CO) from shisha pipes is dangerous because the smoke contains high amounts of CO, along with other toxins.
Smoking hookah for one hour can deliver a dose of carbon monoxide equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes, posing a significant risk of CO poisoning. The water in the hookah does not filter out carbon monoxide or many other harmful substances, so users may inhale substantial amounts of CO, which can lead to serious health problems including acute CO poisoning and long-term cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning typically include neurologic symptoms such as headache, dizziness, visual disturbances, ataxia (lack of coordination), delirium, stupor, coma, and seizures. Cardiopulmonary symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, arrhythmias, syncope, and initial hypertension then possible hypotension due to heart failure. Gastrointestinal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
CO poisoning from hookah arises because burning charcoal and tobacco produce CO, and inhaling the concentrated smoke leads to high CO levels in the blood, impairing oxygen delivery to tissues.
Carbon monoxide exposure from shisha pipes is a significant health hazard, with acute poisoning symptoms that affect the nervous system, heart, and other organs. The misconception that hookah smoke is safer due to water filtration is false, and users may inhale harmful levels of CO and carcinogens during each session.
Our-news has collected articles on the dangers of carbon monoxide from shisha pipes, and it's crucial for users to be aware of these risks. No elevated carbon monoxide levels were measured in the other apartments in the affected house, indicating that the source of the poisoning was likely confined to the couple's apartment.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with shisha smoking and the importance of using carbon monoxide alarms in enclosed spaces where shisha is being used. Shisha bars have been associated with excessive carbon monoxide levels in the air, and it's essential to take precautions to protect public health.
[1] American Lung Association. (2020). Hookah smoking and waterpipe tobacco use. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/i-want-to-quit/resources/types-of-tobacco/hookah-smoking
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Carbon monoxide poisoning. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm
[3] World Health Organization. (2018). Waterpipe tobacco smoking: a systematic review of the evidence. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240016155
[4] Mayo Clinic. (2020). Carbon monoxide poisoning. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20376761
[5] National Health Service. (2020). Carbon monoxide poisoning. Retrieved from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/
