Multiple diseases and medical treatments can cause hypercapnia or high CO2 levels. High blood carbon dioxide levels affect every aspect of the body, including renal function and the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, which make early detection and treatment critical. The "New England Journal of Medicine" indicates that treatment typically focuses on the lungs, diaphragm and the ventilatory-control system. A temporary elevation of carbon dioxide levels usually does not cause any harm. In normal patients that are not experiencing other disease effects, hypercapnia typically corrects itself. Consult a physician if there are any concerns of the effects of high CO2.
Low-flow Oxygen Therapy
The Mayo Clinic Proceedings reported a retroactive review of over 100 patients that were treated for neuromuscular disease. As part of the treatment process, low-flow oxygen was administered during surgery and recovery without supplemental ventilation. A significant amount of patients showed elevated carbon dioxide levels post-operation and after the subsequent recovery period.
Alterations in CO2 Production
The "New England Journal of Medicine" indicates that carbon dioxide production increases 13 percent for every degree of increase in body temperature. Thus, prolonged fevers due to illness may also instigate elevated CO2 levels in the blood. Interestingly, high carbohydrate ingestion can also significantly affect carbohydrate metabolism by raising the CO2 production ratio to oxygen consumption.
Lung Disruptions
Any form of lung disease that prevents an adequate amount of oxygen absorption in the blood will raise the subsequent carbon dioxide blood level. "European Neurology" indicates that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can impair ventilation and subsequently lead to lower lung function. This decreased lung function also disrupts appropriate oxygen absorption and leads to higher CO2 levels in the blood.
Muscle Irregularities
A variety of muscles in the chest wall and diaphragm work together to control respiration. Diaphragm muscle fatigue or any neuromuscular disease that limits the function of respiratory muscles may cause high CO2 levels in the blood. However, the "New England Journal of Medicine" cautions that there are many other factors, including "low cardiac output, anemia, and decreased oxygen saturation," that "can all contribute to a decreased energy supply and increase the likelihood of respiratory-muscle fatigue."
Obesity
Extreme obesity can produce hypoventilation syndrome, according to the "New England Journal of Medicine." In this case, the weight itself causes stress on multiple players in the oxygen ventilation control system, including muscle control, lung function and cardiac response. Sleep apnea caused by a closing of the esophagus due to excess weight limits the amount of oxygen an extremely obese person can obtain at night and leads to hypercapnia.
References
- "Mayo Clinic Proceedings"; Severe hypercapnia after low-flow oxygen therapy in patients with neuromuscular disease and diaphragmatic dysfunction; P.C. Gay et al.; 1995
- "New England Journal of Medicine"; Hypercapnia; S.E. Weinberger et al.; 1989
- "European Neurology"; Cerebral blood flow autoregulation and graded hypercapnia; M.E. Raichle et al.; 1971
