Carbon monoxide connects with red blood cells, stealing oxygen from your body it has to have to thrive. It mixes with these cells more than 200 times more easily than oxygen, leading to a condition known as carboxyhemoglobin saturation.
Carbon monoxide, instead of oxygen, then gets brought to the important organs by the bloodstream. In short, carbon monoxide robs your body of oxygen. Organs have to have oxygen; without it, they begin to suffocate.
Your body needs a long time to get rid of carbon monoxide; however, it can be drawn in much faster.