instruction: hi doctor recently been concerned about a carbon monoxide leak in my pick up recently after a hour interstate drive I stopped and did a carboxyhemoglobin blood test the results came back at 3 I felt that was on the high side of normal so I took it to another exhaust place he claimed it had a small leak and repaired it so this past week we took it on another hour drive this time my wife and I both tested again mine came back at and the wifes at 8 is this normal after driving this distance or should I be concerned
output: hi welcome to icliniq com carboxyhemoglobin level is raised by various reasons and the inhalation of carbon monoxide is one of the reason our body has many mechanism to increase carboxyhemoglobin level for you and your wife the level is normal and nothing to worry lab to lab variation intro instrumental variation human physiological variations are the reason for different values at different time points in case of carbon monoxide poisoning breathing difficulties bluish discoloration of body blood are commonly seen in such case just inhalation of fresh air can be helpful in such cases the carboxyhemoglobin level is higher than your levels so I suggest to leave the worry go for brisk walking in fresh air daily and practice pranayama to balance the carboxyhemoglobin levels if you want to repeat the blood test can be done after some days if the value is not doubled below the doubled level then it is normal if values are doubled or more only then it is the toxic influence