Final answer:
Carbon monoxide (CO) has a very high affinity for hemoglobin, significantly greater than that of oxygen, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning by preventing oxygen transport in the body. The treatment includes administering 100 percent oxygen to displace the CO from hemoglobin and restore oxygen transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon monoxide (CO) has a significant impact on the ability of hemoglobin to transport oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin has a much greater affinity for CO than for oxygen; CO's affinity is approximately 200 times greater than that of oxygen. This high affinity means that CO can outcompete oxygen for the binding sites on hemoglobin, forming a stable complex and effectively preventing hemoglobin from carrying oxygen. In cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, exposure to high levels of CO leads to a lack of oxygen reaching body tissues, which can cause serious health effects such as headaches, confusion, and in severe cases, death.
The treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning involves administering 100 percent oxygen to the patient. This high concentration of oxygen competes with the CO molecules and displaces them from the hemoglobin, allowing normal oxygen transport to resume. This process is facilitated by the fact that while CO has a strong affinity for hemoglobin, it can still be displaced by a sufficiently high partial pressure of oxygen.