Respiratory Alkalosis Symptoms Treatments and Prevention
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ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482117/Dang B, et al. (2022). Evaluation of respiratory alkalosis.
bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-us/463Respiratory alkalosis. (n.d.).
sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-deOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 19, 2022 By Krista O'Connell Edited By John Bassham Medically Reviewed By Thomas Johnson, PA-C Copy Edited By Brennan Doherty Mar 31, 2017 By Krista O'Connell VIEW ALL HISTORY Share this articleMedically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — By Krista O'Connell — Updated on October 18, 2022
Respiratory Alkalosis
Medically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — By Krista O'Connell — Updated on October 18, 2022What is respiratory alkalosis
Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood aren’t balanced. Your body needs oxygen to function properly. When you inhale, you introduce oxygen into the lungs. When you exhale, you release carbon dioxide, which is a waste product. Normally, the respiratory system keeps these two gases in balance. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when you breathe too fast or too deep and carbon dioxide levels drop too low. This causes the pH of the blood to rise and become too alkaline. When the blood becomes too alkalotic, respiratory alkalosis occurs.Hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis
Hyperventilation is typically the underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation is also known as overbreathing. Someone who’s hyperventilating breathes very deeply or rapidly.Causes of hyperventilation
Panic attacks and anxiety are the most common causes of hyperventilation. However, they’re not the only possible causes. Others include:heart attackpaindrug useasthmafeverCOPDinfectionpulmonary embolismpregnancy If you’re experiencing hyperventilation (especially for the first time), don’t assume you know the cause. Make an appointment with a doctor or healthcare professional.Symptoms of respiratory alkalosis
Overbreathing is a sign that respiratory alkalosis is likely to develop. However, low carbon dioxide levels in the blood also have a number of physical effects, including:dizzinessbloatingfeeling light-headednumbness or muscle spasms in the hands and feetdiscomfort in the chest areaconfusiondry mouthtingling in the armsheart palpitationsfeeling short of breathTreatment for respiratory alkalosis
The treatment for respiratory alkalosis depends on the underlying cause.Panic and anxiety-related causes
Treating the condition is a matter of raising carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The following strategies and tips are useful for respiratory alkalosis caused by overbreathing because of panic and anxiety.Breathe into a paper bag
Fill the paper bag with carbon dioxide by exhaling into it.Breathe the exhaled air from the bag back into the lungs.Repeat this several times. Doing this several times can give the body the carbon dioxide it needs and bring levels back up to where they should be.Get reassurance
The symptoms of respiratory alkalosis can be frightening. This often causes faster and deeper breathing, making things worse. Having a calm loved one provide reassurance could help get your breathing under control.Restrict oxygen intake into the lungs
To do this, try breathing while pursing the lips or breathing through one nostril. For the second approach to be useful, the mouth and the other nostril need to be covered.Other causes
The above strategies are very simple ways to address respiratory alkalosis. People who often experience overbreathing because of anxiety can use these methods at home. Anyone experiencing overbreathing and the symptoms of respiratory alkalosis for the first time should go to the hospital right away. The strategies described in the previous section should only be used if a doctor has confirmed the exact cause of overbreathing. Overbreathing symptoms are very similar to the symptoms of other serious health conditions.Recovering from respiratory alkalosis
The recovery process depends on the cause. If you develop respiratory alkalosis because of conditions such as anxiety, you can usually expect to recover fully. Symptoms should disappear shortly after carbon dioxide levels in the blood are brought back to normal. In other cases, it may be a true medical emergency. The outlook for people with respiratory alkalosis will then depend on the severity of the underlying cause.How can respiratory alkalosis be prevented
Prevention is a matter of addressing the cause of hyperventilation. The most common causes are psychological: stress, panic, and anxiety. You can adjust to and learn to control these causes. Working with a therapist may help. So can breathing exercises, meditation, and regular exercise. Medication may be needed in some cases. Good coping strategies for these types of issues are crucial. They can help lower the risk of hyperventilation and the resulting respiratory alkalosis. They can also help you function better overall in everyday life. Last medically reviewed on October 18, 2022How we vetted this article
SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Brinkman JE, et al. (2021). Respiratory alkalosis.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482117/Dang B, et al. (2022). Evaluation of respiratory alkalosis.
bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-us/463Respiratory alkalosis. (n.d.).
sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-deOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Oct 19, 2022 By Krista O'Connell Edited By John Bassham Medically Reviewed By Thomas Johnson, PA-C Copy Edited By Brennan Doherty Mar 31, 2017 By Krista O'Connell VIEW ALL HISTORY Share this articleMedically reviewed by Thomas Johnson, PA-C — By Krista O'Connell — Updated on October 18, 2022