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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.
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.
In chronic respiratory acidosis, the PaCO 2 is elevated above the upper limit of the reference range, with a normal blood pH (7.35 to 7.45) or near-normal pH secondary to renal compensation and an elevated serum bicarbonate (HCO 3 − >30 mEq/L). [citation needed]
Carbon dioxide is a by-product of food metabolism and in high amounts has toxic effects including: dyspnea, acidosis and altered consciousness. [8] Arterial blood carbon dioxide tension. P a CO 2 – Partial pressure of carbon dioxide at sea level in arterial blood is between 35 and 45 mmHg (4.7 and 6.0 kPa). [9] Venous blood carbon dioxide tension
In OHS, sleepiness may be worsened by elevated blood levels of carbon dioxide, which causes drowsiness ("CO 2 narcosis"). Other symptoms present in both conditions are depression, and hypertension (high blood pressure) which is difficult to control with medication. [4]
Similarly, the elevated levels in smokers has been suggested to be a basis for the smoker's paradox. [4] Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide and elevated carboxyhemoglobin, such as in smoking, results in erythremia. [4] Furthermore, humans can acclimate to toxic levels of carbon monoxide based on findings reported by Esther Killick. [4]
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test, or arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.An ABG test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the radial artery with a syringe and a thin needle, [1] but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or another site is used.