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Respiratory Alkalosis

Respiratory alkalosis is a condition caused by excessive breathing (hyperventilation) that leads to low carbon dioxide levels in the blood and a higher than normal pH level. It can be acute or chronic. Hyperventilation is usually due to fever, anxiety, drug overdose, pregnancy, fear, liver disease, or tumors. Treatment focuses on raising carbon dioxide levels through medications or oxygen and correcting any heart abnormalities. If untreated, respiratory alkalosis can cause electrolyte imbalances, shock, or arrhythmias.

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87 views2 pages

Respiratory Alkalosis

Respiratory alkalosis is a condition caused by excessive breathing (hyperventilation) that leads to low carbon dioxide levels in the blood and a higher than normal pH level. It can be acute or chronic. Hyperventilation is usually due to fever, anxiety, drug overdose, pregnancy, fear, liver disease, or tumors. Treatment focuses on raising carbon dioxide levels through medications or oxygen and correcting any heart abnormalities. If untreated, respiratory alkalosis can cause electrolyte imbalances, shock, or arrhythmias.

Uploaded by

Damilola Adamolekun
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Respiratory Alkalosis

Definition
Respiratory alkalosis is a condition characterized by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood
due to alveolar hyperventilation or excessive breathing.
This occurs when a person’s pH level is higher than 7.45.

Causes
Hyperventilation, also known as, overbreathing is basically the underlying cause of respiratory
alkalosis.
The causes include:
Fever
Anxiety
Drug overdose
Pregnancy
Fear
Liver disease
Tumor
Pain

Pathophysiology
Respiratory alkalosis is a disturbance in acid and base balance due to alveolar hyperventilation.
Alveolar hyperventilation leads to a decreased partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide
(PaCO2). In turn, the decrease in PaCO2 increases the ratio of bicarbonate concentration to
PaCO2 and, thereby, increases the pH level; thus the descriptive term respiratory alkalosis. The
decrease in PaCO2 (hypocapnia) develops when a strong respiratory stimulus causes the
respiratory system to remove more carbon dioxide than is produced metabolically in the tissues.
Respiratory alkalosis can be acute or chronic. In acute respiratory alkalosis, the PaCO2 level is
below the lower limit of normal and the serum pH is alkalemic. In chronic respiratory alkalosis,
the PaCO2 level is below the lower limit of normal, but the pH level is relatively normal or near
normal due to compensatory mechanisms.

Clinical Manifestations
● dizziness
● bloating
● feeling lightheaded
● muscle spasms in the hands and feet
● discomfort in the chest area
● confusion
● dry mouth
● tingling in the arms
● shortness of breath
Treatment
Treatment of respiratory alkalosis usually depends on the cause of the illness and is aimed at
raising the carbon dioxide levels in the blood
● administration of an opioid pain relief or anti-anxiety medication to reduce hyperventilation
● providing oxygen to help keep a person from hyperventilating
● correcting any heart rhythm abnormalities by using medications or direct current
cardioversion, which delivers an electric shock to reset the heart’s rhythm

Complications
If not treated or managed properly, it’s may cause
● low potassium levels resulting in electrolyte imbalance
● Shock
● Arrhythmia or Ventricular arrhythmia

Nursing diagnosis
Impaired gas exchange related to altered oxygen supply.

References
https://nurseslabs.com/respiratory-alkalosis-nursing-management/
https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperventilation#causes

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