Respiratory alkalosis is characterized by a lack of carbon dioxide in the blood, also known as CO2, so it is less acidic than normal, with a pH greater than 7. 45.
This lack of carbon dioxide can be caused by several factors, such as breathing faster and deeper than normal, which can occur in times of anxiety, stress, psychological changes, or also due to a breathing disease such as infections, neurological disorders. , lung or heart disease, for example.
- Your treatment is primarily by normalizing breathing.
- And it’s important for your doctor to act to resolve the cause that triggered your respiratory failure.
Respiratory alkalosis usually occurs when breathing is deeper and faster than normal, and this can occur in the following situations:
All of these causes, among others, can lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide in the blood, making it more alkaline.
Usually, symptoms present in respiratory alkalosis are caused by the disease that causes this alteration and also by the effects on the brain of hyperventilation, which can appear on lips and face, muscle spasms, nausea, tremors in the hands and be out of reality for a while. . In more severe cases, dizziness, shortness of breath, confusion and coma may occur.
The main way to confirm respiratory alkalosis is to perform a blood test called arterial gasometry, in which it is possible to check the values of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as pH. In general, this test will examine a pH greater than 7. 45 and CO2 values less than 35 mmHg in arterial blood. Learn more about this hotfix.
Treatment depends on the cause of respiratory alkalosis, if the person has rapid breathing from anxiety, treatment is based on decreased breathing rate, decreased anxiety and increased amount of carbon dioxide inhaled, in case of fever should be controlled with antipyretics and in case of poisoning, detoxification should be performed.
However, in severe and difficult-to-control cases, such as neurological diseases, sedation may be necessary to regulate the patient’s respiratory centers. In addition, it may be necessary to adjust the parameters of the artificial breathing device when the person is in this condition.
If respiratory alkalosis is due to high altitudes, it is normal for the body to compensate for this lack of oxygen by increasing the heart rate and flow, as well as the respiratory rate.