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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.
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]
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.
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]
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
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About a third of all people with morbid obesity (a body mass index exceeding 40 kg/m 2) have elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood. [ 5 ] When examining groups of people with obstructive sleep apnea, researchers have found that 10–20% of them meet the criteria for OHS as well.