Keep this killer at bay by knowing its sources, knowing its signs and knowing how to stay safe, says a North Dakota State University safety specialist. Headaches caused by carbon monoxide in the air result from a lack of oxygen in the blood going to the brain. Bluish fingernails are a result of oxygen-deprived blood.
Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.
This blood does not have the bright red color of healthy blood but has a bluish tint which can be seen through the fingernails. The oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin in the blood is reduced by carbon monoxide producing these symptoms. Carbon monoxide accumulates in the blood, and the level of can be determined by a doctor with a carboxyhemoglobin test. With furnaces and space heaters coming into use, the dangers of carbon monoxide become more common. But, carbon monoxide can be present without the presence of other gases of combustion.