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Hypercapnia (from the Greek hyper, "above" or "too much" and kapnos, "smoke"), also known as hypercarbia and CO 2 retention, is a condition of abnormally elevated carbon dioxide (CO 2) levels in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous product of the body's metabolism and is normally expelled through the lungs.
Respiratory failure is classified as either Type 1 or Type 2, based on whether there is a high carbon dioxide level, and can be acute or chronic. In clinical trials, the definition of respiratory failure usually includes increased respiratory rate , abnormal blood gases (hypoxemia, hypercapnia, or both), and evidence of increased work of breathing.
Acute respiratory acidosis occurs when an abrupt failure of ventilation occurs. This failure in ventilation may be caused by depression of the central respiratory center by cerebral disease or drugs, inability to ventilate adequately due to neuromuscular disease (e.g., myasthenia gravis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Guillain–Barré syndrome, muscular dystrophy), or airway obstruction ...
The high carbon dioxide can also cause headaches, which tend to be worsening in the morning. [6] The low oxygen level leads to physiologic constriction of the pulmonary arteries to correct ventilation-perfusion mismatching, which puts excessive strain on the right side of the heart.
Many people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a low partial pressure of oxygen in the blood and high partial pressure of carbon dioxide.Treatment with supplemental oxygen may improve their well-being; alternatively, in some this can lead to the adverse effect of elevating the carbon dioxide content in the blood (hypercapnia) to levels that may become toxic.
The respiratory center of the brain is located in the pons and medulla and is primarily driven by elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood (hypercapnia) with decreased oxygen levels serving as a less potent stimulus. [9] Central nervous system disorders, such as stroke and tumors, may cause hypoventilation. Drugs may decrease respiratory ...
Respiratory alkalosis is a medical condition in which increased respiration elevates the blood pH beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45) with a concurrent reduction in arterial levels of carbon dioxide. [1] [4] This condition is one of the four primary disturbances of acid–base homeostasis. [5]
Respiratory compromise describes a deterioration in respiratory function with a high likelihood of rapid progression to respiratory failure and death. [1] Respiratory failure occurs when inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system occurs, with a low oxygen level or a high carbon dioxide level.