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  • Smith B Respiratory Alkalosis

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    Timothy P. McNulty
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    Respiratory alkalosis is caused by low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood due to hyperventilation, which is breathing in excess of 40 breaths per minute. This rapid breathing expels too much carbon dioxide from the lungs, lowering the carbon dioxide levels in the blood and causing the pH of the blood to rise, resulting in alkalosis. Common causes of hyperventilation include anxiety, infection, and lung diseases. Symptoms include irritability, tingling sensations, tremors, and potentially seizures or coma.

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    111108 Smith B Respiratory Alkalosis

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    Respiratory alkalosis is caused by low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood due to hyperventilation, which is breathing in excess of 40 breaths per minute. This rapid breathing expels too much carbon dioxide from the lungs, lowering the carbon dioxide levels in the blood and causing the pH of the blood to rise, resulting in alkalosis. Common causes of hyperventilation include anxiety, infection, and lung diseases. Symptoms include irritability, tingling sensations, tremors, and potentially seizures or coma.

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    4 views1 page

    Smith B Respiratory Alkalosis

    Uploaded by

    Timothy P. McNulty
    Respiratory alkalosis is caused by low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood due to hyperventilation, which is breathing in excess of 40 breaths per minute. This rapid breathing expels too much carbon dioxide from the lungs, lowering the carbon dioxide levels in the blood and causing the pH of the blood to rise, resulting in alkalosis. Common causes of hyperventilation include anxiety, infection, and lung diseases. Symptoms include irritability, tingling sensations, tremors, and potentially seizures or coma.

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Respiratory Alkalosis

    http://www.georgiahealth.edu/itss/edtoolbox/GeorgiaLabs/AcidBase/alka...

    Respiratory Alkalosis
    Respiratory alkalosis is caused by a below normal level of carbon dioxide in the blood. When a patient hyperventilates, excesive amounts of air are moved in and out of the lungs, this exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide is too rapid, possibly exceeding 40 breaths/minute. This rapid breathing causes the patient to exhales too much carbon dioxide. This lowered level of carbon dioxide causes the pH of the blood to increase, leading to alkalosis. Compensated alkalosis occurs when the body returns the acid/base balance to normal in cases of alkalosis, but bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels remain abnormal.

    Causes
    Loss of CO2 -Hyperventilation Hypoxia Carbon monoxide poisoning Serious infection Anxiety Panic Pain Tumors or swelling in the brain or nervous system can also cause hyperventilation. Other stresses to the body, including pregnancy, liver failure, high elevations, or metabolic acidosis which can also trigger hyperventilation leading to respiratory alkalosis.

    Hyperventilation
    Hyperventilation, is the primary cause of respiratory alkalosis, and is also the primary symptom.

    Signs and Symptoms


    Lungs Hyperventilation Neurological Irritable Paresthesias Tremor Twitch Carpo-pedal spasm Tetany Seizure Coma

    In this type of alkalosis, the pH will be elevated above 7.45. The pressure of carbon dioxide in the blood will be low, usually under 35 mmHg.

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    11/6/2011 5:07 PM

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