Carbon monoxide is a highly toxic gas that, when inhaled, mixes with the hemoglobin in the blood stream forming carboxhemoglobin (HbCO) which drastically lowers the amount of oxygen found within the blood (anorexia). This lack of sufficient oxygen causes the body's organs to begin to die within a very short period of time. The early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and confusion. These symptoms progress rapidly to respiratory arrest and, if not caught in time, to death. Carbon monoxide is odorless, tasteless and colorless, and is therefore extremely hard to detect. Many homeowners install carbon monoxide detectors in their home for this very reason.