Hypoventilation Symptoms and Causes Explained

Respiratory Depression (Hypoventilation): What to Know

Hypoventilation is a severe syndrome that affects breathing. Excessive obesity, obstruction of breathing, and neuromuscular diseases can result in symptoms of hypoventilation. It is necessary to have proper tests in the diagnosis procedure and treatments like oxygen therapy to cope with this issue. Self-care prevention also becomes paramount to get rid of these symptoms.

Introduction

Hypoventilation is a syndrome that slows down breathing and creates issues in meeting the needs of your body. The levels of carbon dioxide in the body increase when a person deals with hypoventilation syndrome. This blog briefly discusses the causes and symptoms of hypoventilation and also highlights the best approaches to treat the syndrome.

What are the Symptoms of Hypoventilation?

Hypoventilation is often called respiratory depression since it increases acid and reduces the oxygen levels in the blood. However, you can see the indication of respiratory depression in your body by experiencing a lot of symptoms. Below are some of them that make you aware that you are experiencing hypoventilation:

• Shallow Breathing: One of the foremost symptoms of hypoventilation is shallow and slow breathing. You will experience that very little air is drawn into your lungs. However, you may also experience faster breathing since your body tries to blow out high carbon dioxide levels.
• Fast Heartbeat: Since the syndrome is related to your breathing, you will also notice that your heartbeat will get faster than usual.
• Nausea: Nausea is also one of the major symptoms of hypoventilation. If you often feel sick in your stomach, with that urge to vomit, it can be an indication of hypoventilation.
• Feeling Confused: You often feel disoriented or confused while doing any kind of work due to the increase in carbon dioxide in your body.
• Tiredness and Lethargy: Your oxygen levels will decrease when you are dealing with hypoventilation. It results in symptoms like tiredness or lethargy while doing any task.
• Bluish-coloured Skin and Lips: The extreme bluishness in your skin, nails, and lips also indicates that you are affected by hypoventilation.
• Sleep Disturbance: Disturbances in sleep and daytime sleepiness may also indicate that you are dealing with this syndrome.

What are the Causes of Hypoventilation?

You can experience hypoventilation or respiratory depression due to a lot of reasons. Most importantly, this type of syndrome can also be caused by the side effects of particular medications. Below are some of the possible causes of hypoventilation:

• Obesity: Obesity is one of the major causes of respiratory depression. The additional weight on your body can significantly hinder your breathing and make it harder.
• Obstruction in Your Breathing: Anything that obstructs your breathing can result in respiratory depression. Obstructive sleep apnoea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two examples of it.
• Anaesthesia: Any type of anaesthesia can also cause hypoventilation in your body. Anaesthesia may also severely impact your lung mechanism, leading to tension in your respiratory system.
• Neuromuscular Diseases: Weakness in subsequent muscles and poor control of them can cause hypoventilation. Some of the examples of these are multiple sclerosis (MS) and muscular dystrophy.
• Chest Wall Deformities: It limits your normal respiratory rate and the function of the lungs. You can feel the tension while inhaling and exhaling.
• Excessive Toxins in the Body: Excessive levels of toxins in your body may also cause hypoventilation. Some of the causes are tetanus, botulism, and ciguatera toxicity.
• High Dosage of Certain Medications: High doses of central nervous system depressant drugs can also slow down your respiratory system and make your breathing shallower. Drugs, including opioids, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines, can significantly result in hypoventilation.

What are the complications of respiratory depression?

There will be severe complications in your respiratory system and mental health issues if your hypoventilation is left untreated. The following complications might take place as a result of untreated respiratory depression:

• Respiratory Failure:You should avoid delaying the treatment of hypoventilation since it can result in respiratory failure. You will face trouble, as you will not receive enough oxygen to your tissues.
• Pulmonary Hypertension:Avoiding respiratory depression can also create complications like pulmonary hypertension, which results in right-sided heart failure.
• Respiratory Arrest:Hypoventilation from excessive consumption of drugs can lead to respiratory arrest. This complication in your body completely stops your breathing.
• Respiratory Acidosis: This complication can increase the acid levels in your lungs.
   

Diagnosis of Hypoventilation

You need to visit a healthcare institution or a doctor if you experience one of the above-mentioned symptoms. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and experiences to identify the reasons for your hypoventilation.
 

They may use special tests to measure the carbon dioxide levels in your body. These are:
 

• Pulmonary Function Test
• Chest X-ray for abnormalities
• Pulse Oximetry Test
• Sleep study to diagnose sleep apnoea
• Blood tests, including Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) and complete blood count (CBC)
• Blood gas test to measure the balance of acid and base.
   

What are the Best Approaches to Treat Hypoventilation?

Although it may vary depending on different types of causes, respiratory depression is treatable. Some of the best practices to treat hypoventilation are mentioned below:
 

• Noninvasive ventilation: This process allows you to breathe through a mask by using bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
• Oxygen Therapy: This therapy is used to support your breathing. It increases healthy blood oxygen levels, which helps you breathe better.
• Detoxification: If you were affected by hypoventilation through a drug overdose, then the treatment process should include detoxification. Medications that work against the impact of naloxone or methadone are usually used by the doctors in this case.
• Mechanical Ventilation: This therapy helps you breathe when you cannot breathe on your own or face issues while breathing. It keeps your airways open, removes carbon dioxide, and promotes oxygen.
   

Preventive Measures to Avoid Respiratory Depression

Healthcare institutions and doctors will try their best to treat this syndrome in you. However, you should also take preventive measures to keep yourself away from these symptoms. Here are some of the common preventive measures that help you avoid these issues:
 

• Avoid sedative medications.
• Avoid excessive use of alcohol.
• Take only prescribed medications.
• Take extra precautions while using narcotic medications.
   

Final Words

Hypoventilation or respiratory depression keeps people in a serious condition that increases the levels of carbon dioxide in their blood. Low oxygen symptoms, nausea, tiredness, and bluishness of the skin are some common symptoms of hypoventilation.

If you experience some of these symptoms, you should immediately contact a doctor or a healthcare institution.

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