"Severe Headaches After Moving" 30s Diagnosed with Dementia... The Cause Was Inside the House

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Improperly Installed Boiler
Can Be Fatal in Severe Cases... Numerous Deaths Reported in Korea

A woman in the UK visited a hospital after experiencing symptoms such as headaches and decreased concentration, only to be diagnosed with dementia. The sudden cause of this dementia was revealed to be 'carbon monoxide poisoning.'

A part of the exhaust pipe connected to the boiler is misaligned. The photo is not directly related to the content of the article. Gangwon-do Fire Headquarters

Recently, British media outlet The Sun reported the story of Sue Westwood-Rutledge (52), a mother of two children. After moving 18 years ago, she suffered from persistent headaches, dizziness, and decreased concentration for three years. She eventually collapsed at home, leading to a critical situation where her major organs stopped functioning. At that time, Sue was only in her mid-30s.

Sue visited hospitals, but doctors were baffled by the cause of her symptoms. Some suspected that Sue was regularly using drugs such as cocaine, while some experts diagnosed her with dementia despite her unusually young age of 30s.

However, the truth was uncovered during a routine inspection by British energy supplier British Gas. Carbon monoxide was leaking from a poorly installed boiler in her home. Sue and her then six-year-old son were gradually being poisoned. Sue said, "I will never forget the expression when the gas engineer told us to 'get out of the house immediately.' Our family almost died. The only reason we survived was because we always kept the windows open."

Nearly 20 years later, she still suffers from the aftereffects of carbon monoxide poisoning. She continues to experience various symptoms such as muscle pain, migraines, and memory problems. She also underwent surgery on both hands and feet due to nerve damage and had to undergo reading training for several years because she was unable to read short sentences. Sue revealed, "After undergoing Alzheimer's tests at the neurosurgery department, they said my brain was similar to that of an elderly person in their 80s," adding, "The doctor said it was comparable to someone who had suffered a stroke." Sue has shared her story as part of a charity campaign to raise awareness about carbon monoxide safety. It was also revealed that before being poisoned, she ran a construction company and regularly went to the gym, maintaining strict health management, which adds to the poignancy of her case.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, death. When exposed to carbon monoxide, it binds with hemoglobin in the blood, slowing oxygen transport and causing internal suffocation. Symptoms vary depending on the level of exposure. Continuous exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide, as in Sue’s case, poses a risk of chronic poisoning. Severe cases can lead to neurological and cardiovascular problems or arrhythmias. Carbon monoxide is deadly but invisible and odorless, earning it the nickname "the silent killer."

In South Korea, on the 27th of last month, a woman in her 60s died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a wood-burning boiler in a house in Haepyeong-myeon, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk Province. There are also many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning during car camping and outdoor camping. On the 5th of last month, a father and son in their 50s and teens were found dead inside a tent at a campsite in Seosan, Chungnam, and on the 23rd of the same month, two men in their 30s died inside a tent at a campsite in Sutong-ri, Burimyeon, Geumsan.

Experts emphasize the importance of checking for exhaust pipe disconnections when using indoor boilers and installing carbon monoxide detectors. They also advise that when using gas heaters inside vehicles or tents, the vehicle doors should be opened or the tent entrance fully opened to ensure ventilation.