To completely flush the carbon monoxide from the body requires several hours, valuable time when additional damage can occur. Medical treatment, using oxygen or hyperbaric chambers, can reduce CO damage, speed recovery, and reduce medical problems. When people lose consciousness due to carbon monoxide poisoning, they will typically have relapses for several weeks. They will suffer from headache, fatigue, loss of memory, difficulty in thinking clearly, irrational behavior, and irritability. Recover can be slow and frustrating.
Some individuals suffer permanent brain and organ damage.
Victims may be highly sensitive to CO for the rest of their lives. If you have recently been exposed, a breath test can determine carbon monoxide levels. Medical laboratories can measure carboxyhemoglobin levels in the blood. Carboxyhemoglogin levels in the blood drop after the victim is removed from the carbon monoxide source. For this reason, carboxyhemoglobin tests should not be used as the only indicator of the danger of exposure or the possible adverse health effects.