obesity hypoventilation, which happens when having obesity makes it difficult to breathe deeply or quickly enough, according to older research.

hypothermia, which is severe heat loss from the body that often occurs with hypercapnia and hypoxia.

brain stem stroke, which can affect breathing.

COVID-19 in some people who use a ventilator.

activities that impact breathing, including diving and ventilator use.

Other causes of high blood levels of carbon dioxide include:

myasthenia gravis, which is a chronic disease that can weaken the skeletal muscles responsible for breathing.

Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can result from an unusual immune response.

encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Other disorders of the nervous or muscular systems that can contribute to hypercapnia include the following: For example, muscular dystrophy can cause the muscles to weaken, eventually leading to breathing problems. In some people, the nerves and muscles necessary for sufficient lung function may not work correctly.

It can affect oxygen levels in the blood and the body’s balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen.Ĭan surgery help with sleep apnea? Nerve disorders and muscular problems Sleep apnea can present as shallow breathing or pauses in breathing during sleep. How can yoga help manage asthma? Sleep apnea Activities that can trigger an asthma attack include exercise and exposure to irritants, including cigarette smoke and air pollution. People with asthma have a higher risk of hypercapnia.ĭoctors do not know precisely why asthma develops, though it is likely due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It may impact breathing and the levels of carbon dioxide in the body when it is unmanaged.

Which breathing exercises can help with COPD? AsthmaĪsthma causes the airways to become inflamed and narrowed. Having an AAT deficiency is a risk factor for COPD development.Īir pollution and exposure to chemicals or dust may also cause COPD.Īlthough not everyone with COPD will develop hypercapnia, a person’s risk increases as their COPD progresses. AAT is a protein that supports lung health. Some have a genetic condition in which the liver does not produce enough alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT). However, up to 30% of people with COPD have never smoked. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, cigarette smoke is the most common lung irritant that causes COPD in the United States. The main cause of COPD is long-term exposure to lung irritants. Common forms of COPD include chronic bronchitis and emphysema.Ĭhronic bronchitis leads to inflammation and mucus in the airways, while emphysema involves damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs.īoth conditions can cause increased levels of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. COPDĬOPD is an umbrella term for several conditions that affect breathing. Here are some possible causes of hypercapnia. Some may even be fatal.Ī person may also experience other symptoms related to an underlying disease such as COPD or asthma. The symptoms of severe hypercapnia require immediate medical attention, as they can cause long-term complications. However, if symptoms persist, a person should contact a doctor. The body can often balance carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream and correct the symptoms by itself. These symptoms may arise from shorter periods of shallow or slow breathing, such as during deep sleep. People with chronic hypercapnia may also experience a temporary worsening of symptoms. Or they can be chronic, meaning they last a long time. Symptoms can be acute, meaning they start suddenly and last a short while.

Sids carbon dioxide poisoning