All Topics  
Hypocapnia

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Hypocapnia
 
 
  Topics Hypocapnia Topic Home

Hypocapnia or hypocapnea also known as hypocarbia, sometimes incorrectly called acapnia, is a state of reduced carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 in the blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
. Hypocapnia usually results from deep or rapid breathing, known as hyperventilation
Hyperventilation

In medicine, hyperventilation is the state of breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, bringing about lightheadedness and other undesirable symptoms often associated with panic attacks....
.

Hypocapnia is the opposite of hypercapnia
Hypercapnia

Hypercapnia or hypercapnea , also known as hypercarbia, is a condition where there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous product of the human body metabolism and is normally expelled through the lungs....
.

when severe, hypocapnia is normally well tolerated. However, hypocapnia causes cerebral vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, particularly the large arteries, arterioles and veins....
, leading to cerebral hypoxia
Cerebral hypoxia

Cerebral hypoxia refers to deprivation of oxygen supply to brain tissue. Mild or moderate cerebral hypoxia is sometimes known as diffuse cerebral hypoxia....
 and this can cause transient dizziness, visual disturbances, and anxiety.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Hypocapnia'
Start a new discussion about 'Hypocapnia'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Hypocapnia or hypocapnea also known as hypocarbia, sometimes incorrectly called acapnia, is a state of reduced carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalent bond to a single carbon atom. It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure and exists in Earth's atmosphere in this state....
 in the blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
. Hypocapnia usually results from deep or rapid breathing, known as hyperventilation
Hyperventilation

In medicine, hyperventilation is the state of breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, bringing about lightheadedness and other undesirable symptoms often associated with panic attacks....
.

Hypocapnia is the opposite of hypercapnia
Hypercapnia

Hypercapnia or hypercapnea , also known as hypercarbia, is a condition where there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous product of the human body metabolism and is normally expelled through the lungs....
.

Effects

Even when severe, hypocapnia is normally well tolerated. However, hypocapnia causes cerebral vasoconstriction
Vasoconstriction

Vasoconstriction is the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, particularly the large arteries, arterioles and veins....
, leading to cerebral hypoxia
Cerebral hypoxia

Cerebral hypoxia refers to deprivation of oxygen supply to brain tissue. Mild or moderate cerebral hypoxia is sometimes known as diffuse cerebral hypoxia....
 and this can cause transient dizziness, visual disturbances, and anxiety. A low partial pressure
Partial pressure

In a mixture of ideal gases, each gas has a partial pressure which is the pressure which the gas would have if it alone occupied the volume. The total pressure of a gas mixture is the sum of the partial pressures of each individual gas in the mixture....
 of carbon dioxide in the blood also causes alkalosis
Alkalosis

Alkalosis refers to a condition reducing hydrogen ion concentration of artery blood plasma . Generally alkalosis is said to occur when pH of the blood exceeds 7.45....
 (because CO2 is acidic in solution), leading to lowered plasma calcium ions and nerve and muscle excitability. This explains the other common symptoms of hyperventilation —pins and needles
Paresthesia

Paresthesia is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect. It is more generally known as the feeling of "pins and needles" or of a human limb being "asleep" ....
, muscle cramps and tetany
Tetany (medical sign)

Tetany is a medical sign, the involuntary contraction of muscles, caused by diseases and other conditions that increase the action potential frequency....
 in the extremities, especially hands and feet.

Because the brain stem
Brain stem

The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. The brain stem provides the main motor and sensory innervation to the face and neck via the cranial nerves....
 regulates breathing by monitoring the level of blood CO2, hypocapnia can suppress breathing to the point of blackout from cerebral hypoxia.

Causes

Hypocapnia is sometimes induced in the treatment of the medical emergencies
Medical emergency

A medical emergency is an injury or illness that is Acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health. These emergencies may require assistance from another person, who should ideally be suitably qualified to do so, although some of these emergencies can be dealt with by the victim themselves....
, such as intracranial
Intracranial

Sorry, no overview for this topic
 hypertension
Hypertension

Hypertension, also referred to as high blood pressure, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated....
 and hyperkalaemia.

Self-induced hypocapnia through hyperventilation is the basis for the deadly schoolyard fainting game. Deliberate hyperventilation has been unwisely used by underwater breath-hold divers
Free-diving

Freediving is any of various aquatic activities that share the practice of breath-hold underwater diving. Examples include breathhold spear fishing, freedive photography, apnea competitions and, to a degree, snorkeling....
 to extend dive time but at the risk of shallow water blackout
Shallow water blackout

A shallow water blackout is a Unconsciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a Apnea dive in water typically shallower than five metres , when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other obvious medical condition that might have caused it....
, which is a significant cause of drowning.

See also

  • Hypercapnia
    Hypercapnia

    Hypercapnia or hypercapnea , also known as hypercarbia, is a condition where there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous product of the human body metabolism and is normally expelled through the lungs....
    , increased level of carbon dioxide
  • Hyperventilation syndrome
    Hyperventilation syndrome

    Hyperventilation syndrome is a respiratory disorder, psychologically or physiologically based, involving breathing too deeply or too rapidly . HVS may present with chest pain and a tingling sensation in the fingertips and around the mouth and may accompany a panic attack....
    , which is often associated with hypocapnia
  • Shallow water blackout
    Shallow water blackout

    A shallow water blackout is a Unconsciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a Apnea dive in water typically shallower than five metres , when the swimmer does not necessarily experience an urgent need to breathe and has no other obvious medical condition that might have caused it....
    , where hyperventilation and the subsequent hypocapnia is a cause
  • Buteyko, therapy treating asthma and other disorders by reducing hypocapnia