What Is Respiratory Alkalosis?

Respiratory Alkalosis
What is respiratory alkalosis?

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood are not
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 acidic, respiratory acidosis occurs.
Hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis

Hyperventilation is typically the underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation is
also known as overbreathing. Someone who is 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 attack
 pain
 drug use
 asthma
 fever
 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
 infection
 pulmonary embolism
 pregnancy
If you’re experiencing hyperventilation (especially for the first time), don’t assume you know the
cause. Make an appointment with your doctor.
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:
 dizziness
 bloating
 feeling lightheaded
 numbness or muscle spasms in the hands and feet
 discomfort in the chest area
 confusion
 dry mouth
 tingling in the arms
 heart palpitations
 feeling short of breath
Treatment 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 due to panic and
anxiety.
Breathe into a paper bag
1. Fill the paper bag with carbon dioxide by exhaling into it.
2. Breathe the exhaled air from the bag back into the lungs.
3. 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 due to 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 due to
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 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.

What Is Respiratory Alkalosis?

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What Is Respiratory Alkalosis?

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Respiratory Alkalosis

What is respiratory alkalosis?

Hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis

Symptoms of respiratory alkalosis

Treatment for respiratory alkalosis

Panic and anxiety-related causes

Breathe into a paper bag

Restrict oxygen intake into the lungs

Recovering from respiratory alkalosis

How can respiratory alkalosis be prevented?

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