Carbon monoxide connects to red blood cells, stealing oxygen from your body it needs to survive. It combines with these cells nearly 200 times more easily than oxygen, leading to a condition known as carboxyhemoglobin saturation.
Carbon monoxide, instead of oxygen, then gets brought to the vital organs through the bloodstream. Simply put, carbon monoxide robs your body of oxygen. Organs require oxygen; without it, they begin to suffocate.
Your body requires a long time to eradicate carbon monoxide; however, it can be drawn in much faster.