Hypercapnia

What Is Hypercapnia?

Hypercapnia, also known as hypercarbia Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , occurs when the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bloodstream rises above a certain level. This can upset the acid-base balance in the bloodstream and cause a range of mild to severe symptoms. Hypercapnia is considered a sign of a larger issue instead of being a standalone disease. It can occur suddenly, or it can exist in chronic form.

What Are the Symptoms of Hypercapnia?

Hypercapnia symptoms can vary in severity, and they may present differently depending on the underlying issue. Some common symptoms of hypercapnia are:

• Labored or shallow breathing
• Wheezing
• Altered consciousness or confusion
• Fever
• Flushed skin
• Sweating profusely
• Fatigue or sleepiness
• Headache or nausea
• Irritability

Many of these symptoms are also symptoms of other diseases. Additionally, hypercapnia often (but not always) occurs along with a lack of oxygen. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor.

What Causes Hypercapnia?

Hypercapnia occurs when the blood’s CO2 level rises above normal due to respiratory problems, excessive metabolism, or more rarely, from breathing in too much CO2.

The body produces CO2 as a byproduct of metabolism. Some examples of events that can trigger higher-than-usual CO2 production are fever, steroid use, eating too much, and exercise. Usually, we regulate CO2 levels by breathing in and out. However, excessive production of CO2 coupled with a compromised respiratory system may lead to higher levels of CO2 in the body.

Severe breathing problems that interfere with a person’s ability to regulate levels of oxygen and CO2 are known as ventilatory failure Trusted Source Merck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source . Ventilatory failure can arise through illnesses such as asthma, COPD, drug overdose, or physical issues with the respiratory system. Diseases that cause a weakening of the muscles required for breathing, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, can also cause hypercapnia Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

Sleep Apnea and Hypercapnia

One condition that can cause hypercapnia at night is sleep apnea Trusted Source Merck Manual First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source , a disorder in which a person stops breathing multiple times during sleep. These breathing lapses are most often caused by a physical obstruction of the airway, termed obstructive sleep apnea. They can also result from a problem in the brain’s signals to the respiratory system, termed central sleep apnea Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source . Both types of sleep apnea contribute to unrefreshing sleep.

The obstruction in breathing from sleep apnea can also cause hypercapnia during the waking hours. One study found that 14% of people with obstructive sleep apnea also experienced hypercapnia during the day Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source .

Additionally, a related condition called obesity hypoventilation syndrome Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source can cause hypercapnia. People with obesity hypoventilation syndrome may start out experiencing breathing problems during sleep, and eventually progress to experiencing hypercapnia during the day as well.

How Is Hypercapnia Diagnosed?

To diagnose hypercapnia, doctors usually run an arterial blood gas analysis to check for abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide in your blood. During the test, your doctor will draw blood from an artery Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source . This may be more uncomfortable than a regular blood draw.

If your blood sample reveals high levels of CO2, your doctor will also check to see if your blood is acidic. This can provide information about whether the hypercapnia is short-term or chronic. Short-term CO2 spikes raise blood acidity, but people with chronic hypercapnia often have neutral acidity levels because they have developed mechanisms to compensate for this chemical in the blood.

Because hypercapnia usually stems from an underlying condition, your doctor may need to run multiple additional tests to check your thyroid hormone levels, lung and heart functioning, and other parameters. If they suspect your hypercapnia could be due to sleep apnea, they may perform an overnight sleep test, called polysomnography. They will also ask you questions about your medical history.

How Is Hypercapnia Treated?

Treatment for hypercapnia is generally directed at treating the underlying problem.

If your hypercapnia is due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Trusted Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) As the nation’s health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. View Source , your doctor may ask you to limit your exposure to smoke and prescribe medications. If you have obstructive sleep apnea, lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight if you are overweight, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime may ease symptoms.

For hypercapnia that is exacerbated by medication Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source , ask your doctor about lowering doses or switching medications. People with severe lung problems may be referred for lung volume reduction surgery Trusted Source National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) The NHLBI is the nation's leader in the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. View Source to improve breathing.

Breathing Machines

If you are struggling with moderate or severe hypercapnia, your doctor may recommend a device to help you breathe. Often, the first type of device they will try is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) device. These consist of face masks that deliver a stream of slightly pressurized air to keep the airway open, helping the body naturally remove the extra CO2. This type of ventilation usually improves symptoms within a few hours, although nightly CPAP therapy can also be used long-term by people with obstructive sleep apnea.

A more invasive alternative to CPAP and BiPAP therapy is intubation with mechanical ventilation, in which a tube is inserted into the windpipe and a machine pushes air in and out of the lungs Trusted Source MSD Manuals First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. View Source . This technique usually resolves hypercapnia within a few hours, though people with conditions such as asthma or pneumonia may require a few days before CO2 levels return to normal.

To protect the lungs from damage due to mechanical ventilation, doctors may set the air pressure slightly lower than it needs to be, meaning the hypercapnia takes a little longer to resolve. This technique is known as permissive hypercapnia.

If none of these artificial ventilation techniques work, there is a newer treatment called extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal that is designed to siphon out carbon dioxide from the blood instead of through the airways. Your doctor may try this technique if it is available in your area.

When to See a Doctor

You should talk to your doctor if you have severe hypercapnia symptoms, if you have had mild hypercapnia symptoms for several days, if they are accompanied by other symptoms, or if you have any other reason to be worried for your health. It is important to find and treat the cause of your hypercapnia to reduce the risk of complications.