When a person hyperventilates, it means that he is breathing very rapidly. This interferes with the body's ability to rid itself of carbon dioxide, which is normally expelled when exhaling. As the carbon dioxide level builds up, the symptoms of...
Respiratory alkalosis is a condition in which carbon dioxide is expelled from the body faster than produced due to excessive respiration. This causes an increase in blood pH, making it more alkaline and exciting the nervous system. If extreme,...
Hypercapnia is a condition in which the carbon dioxide levels reach unsafe levels in the blood. Carbon dioxide is a metabolic product formed during cellular respiration. It is removed from your tissue to the blood and from your blood to the air...
The body produces carbon dioxide as a waste product during cellular metabolism. This substance helps transport oxygen from the bloodstream to the organs and tissues of the body. It also plays a role in cardiovascular system function and the...
The level of carbon dioxide in the blood is indicative of the health of the acid/base balance of the blood. Both acidic and alkaline conditions can cause an abnormally high carbon dioxide level in a blood test. Carbon Dioxide--also known as...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, can be a precursor to heart disease, kidney failure, stroke and other diseases. In many cases hypertension is not detected because it rarely has early symptoms. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, can also be...
Under normal conditions, your body's acid-base balance is slightly on the alkaline side of neutral and is reflected by a pH level of approximately 7.4. Many factors can lead to an increased level of acid in the body, a condition known as acidosis,...
Your body uses oxygen to produce energy. Oxygen cannot be stored in the body and muse be continually inspired. Therefore as your body expends more energy you must respire more. Your breathing rate is controlled by several factors including...
Breathing and the regulation of oxygen and carbon dioxide would not be possible without our lungs. The lungs also aid white blood cells in fighting against infectious agents; mucus, a substance produced in the lungs, traps infectious agents and...
Hyperventilation is a state of uncontrolled, rapid breathing. The fast-paced breathing expels more carbon dioxide from your body than usual, causing your blood's carbon dioxide level to drop and its pH to rise. As a result, the arteries constrict,...
The brain is the primary controller of respiratory rate. It receives input from sensors that detect oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Blood pH also influences respiratory rate. Activity level and the presence of drugs or alcohol are...
Your body has a number of ways of regulating the amount of acid in your blood, including through your breathing. If your breathing becomes impaired, it can lead to a condition known as acute respiratory acidosis. One of the effects of acute...
A region of the brain stem called the medulla contains the respiratory center, which controls the body's respiratory rate. This respiratory center stimulates the phrenic nerves that innervate the diaphragm and the intercostal nerves that innervate...
Hiccups appear suddenly as an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, resulting in convulsive gasps and "hic" sounds. The minor inconvenience usually lasts for a matter of minutes, though hiccups can also go on for hours. Medical attention...
Your body needs to maintain a pH level between 7.35 to 7.45 in order remain properly balanced, the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library says. Acidosis occurs when your pH level drops below 7.35. This condition causes the fluids in your body to be...
It is only when a person cannot breathe that they become acutely aware of the function of breathing. Although a person can consciously alter the rate and depth of breathing, the actual control center is in the lower part of the brain stem. Nerve...
Hiccups--involuntary contractions of your diaphragm muscle that cause your vocal cords to close-- afflict nearly everyone at one time or another. They can result from a large meal, alcoholic beverages or sudden excitement, and usually last only a...
Alkalosis is a condition involving excess base, or alkali, in your body fluids. There are two principle types of alkalosis: respiratory and metabolic. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when you develop low carbon dioxide levels in your blood, and...
Stair climbers are available in a number of designs. Some use an endless staircase that revolves as you keep pace while others use lever arms that simulate steps. All types of stair climbing machine offer a similarly effective low impact workout,...
Routine exercise improves your capacity to take in oxygen by gradually promoting physiological changes in your body. But these changes don't include increasing the size, breadth or length of your lungs. Exercise causes changes in your cardiac,...
The lungs, an organ of the respiratory system, function to intake air, exchange gases and exhale waste produced by cells. As the lungs expand, air enters the mouth and nose, travels through the trachea, enters the bronchi that branch into a series...
One diet trend that is becoming more popular is the acid alkaline balance diet. This dietary plan has less to do with counting calories, carbohydrates or fats and instead focuses on a different aspect of food: its effects on the acidity or...
Beating approximately 60 to 70 times per minute throughout our lives, the human heart plays a vital role in survival, pumping life sustaining blood throughout our bodies. The heart's pumping action occurs in two distinct steps. First, blood...
Breathing provides life-sustaining oxygen and rids the body of the gaseous waste product carbon dioxide. The respiratory control center in the brain stem receives various types of input from sensors in the body that influence the breathing rate....
The dangers of alkaline arise when your body reaches a state known as alkalosis. This occurs when fluids in your body have excess base or alkali. Lower carbon dioxide or higher bicarbonate levels make your body too alkaline. Low carbon dioxide...
In hyperventilation caused by anxiety, you may feel breathless and breathe shallowly and rapidly. This reduces carbon dioxide levels in your blood, causing tingling sensations and dizziness that can further increase your anxiety. The "Mayo Clinic...
PH is the measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. In the human body, the pH levels must be maintained within a narrow range. Acids are a product of normal metabolic processes, and, when the body is functioning properly, they are buffered...
Arterial blood gasses are a common test done to measure the acidity and gas content of the blood, primarily the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Arterial blood gas levels are typically done in pulmonology, because it can give information on lung...
A food is classified as either acid- or alkaline-forming based on the pH of the compounds it produces when metabolized. Acid-forming foods generate acidic waste products that a complex set of buffering systems must remove to preserve your...
