- What symptoms
- Possible causes
- What are the risk factors
- What is the diagnosis
- How the treatment is done
Hypercapnia is characterized by an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, which usually occurs as a result of hypoventilation or inability to breathe properly in order to capture enough oxygen to the lungs. Hypercapnia can occur suddenly and cause an increase in the acidity of the blood, called respiratory acidosis.
Treatment depends on the cause of the hypercapnia and its severity, and generally consists of the administration of oxygen, monitoring of the heart and blood pressure and in some cases, administration of medications, such as bronchodilators or corticosteroids.
What symptoms
Some of the symptoms that can occur in cases of hypercapnia include:
- Flushed skin; Drowsiness; Headache; Dizziness; Disorientation; Shortness of breath; Excessive tiredness.
In addition to these, more serious symptoms may occur, such as confusion, paranoia, depression, muscle spasms, abnormal heartbeat, increased respiratory rate, panic attacks, convulsions or fainting. In these cases, you must go immediately to the medical emergency, because if not properly treated, it can be fatal.
Possible causes
One of the most common causes of hypercapnia is chronic obstructive disease, in which the lungs are unable to absorb oxygen efficiently. Learn how to identify and treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In addition, hypercapnia can also be caused by sleep apnea, overweight, asthma, decompensated heart failure, pulmonary embolism, acidemia and neuromuscular diseases such as polymyositis, ALS, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton-Lambert Syndrome, diphtheria, botulism, hypophosphatemia or hypermagnesemia.
What are the risk factors
People with a history of heart or lung disease, who use cigarettes or who are exposed to chemicals on a daily basis, such as in the workplace, for example, are at an increased risk of suffering from hypercapnia.
What is the diagnosis
To diagnose hypercapnia, a blood gas test can be done to check blood carbon dioxide levels and see if the oxygen pressure is normal.
The doctor may also choose to perform an X-ray or CT scan of the lungs to check if there are any lung problems.
How the treatment is done
In people with lower levels of consciousness, hemodynamic instability or imminent risk of cardiorespiratory arrest, orotracheal intubation should be performed.
In less severe cases, cardiac and blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry and oxygen supplementation by mask or catheter can be performed. In addition, the administration of medications, such as bronchodilators or corticosteroids, may be recommended and, in the case of a respiratory infection, antibiotics may be necessary.
