BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRespiratory alkalosisAlkalosis - respiratoryRespiratory alkalosis is a condition marked by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood due to breathing excessively. Causes Common causes include:Anxiety or panic Fever Overbreathing (hyperventilation) HyperventilationHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy (this is normal) Pain Tumor Trauma Severe anemia Severe anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver disease Central nervous system (brain) abnormalities Overdose of certain medicines, such as salicylates, progesterone Any lung disease that leads to shortness of breath can also cause respiratory alkalosis (such as pulmonary embolism and asthma).Pulmonary embolismA pulmonary embolus is a blockage of an artery in the lungs. The most common cause of the blockage is a blood clot.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms The symptoms may include:Dizziness Lightheadedness Numbness of the hands and feet Breathlessness Confusion Chest discomfort Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. Tests that may be done include:Arterial blood gas, which measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood Blood gasBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Basic metabolic panel Basic metabolic panelThe basic metabolic panel is a group of blood tests that provides information about your body's metabolism.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest CT scan of the chestA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pulmonary function tests to measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioningPulmonary function testsPulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment is aimed at the condition that causes respiratory alkalosis. Breathing into a paper bag -- or using a mask that causes you to re-breathe carbon dioxide -- sometimes helps reduce symptoms when anxiety is the main cause of the condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Outlook depends on the condition that is causing the respiratory alkalosis. Possible Complications Seizures may occur if the alkalosis is extremely severe. This is very rare and more likely to happen if the alkalosis is due to increased ventilation from a breathing machine. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any symptoms of lung disease, such as long-term (chronic) cough or shortness of breath.Open ReferencesReferencesMcCoin NS, Self WH. Acid-base disorders. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 113.Sanghavi S, Albert TJ. Acid-base balance. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 12.Seifter JL. Acid-base disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 110.AllVideoImagesTogRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustration Tests for Respiratory alkalosis CO2 blood testRelated Information Hyperventilation(Symptoms) Review Date: 7/31/2022 Reviewed By: Denis Hadjiliadis, MD, MHS, Paul F. Harron Jr. Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Respiratory alkalosisAlkalosis - respiratoryRespiratory alkalosis is a condition marked by a low level of carbon dioxide in the blood due to breathing excessively. Causes Common causes include:Anxiety or panic Fever Overbreathing (hyperventilation) HyperventilationHyperventilation is rapid and deep breathing. It is also called overbreathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy (this is normal) Pain Tumor Trauma Severe anemia Severe anemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver disease Central nervous system (brain) abnormalities Overdose of certain medicines, such as salicylates, progesterone Any lung disease that leads to shortness of breath can also cause respiratory alkalosis (such as pulmonary embolism and asthma).Pulmonary embolismA pulmonary embolus is a blockage of an artery in the lungs. The most common cause of the blockage is a blood clot.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms The symptoms may include:Dizziness Lightheadedness Numbness of the hands and feet Breathlessness Confusion Chest discomfort Exams and Tests Your health care provider will perform a physical exam. Tests that may be done include:Arterial blood gas, which measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood Blood gasBlood gases are a measurement of how much oxygen and carbon dioxide are in your blood. They also determine the acidity (pH) of your blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Basic metabolic panel Basic metabolic panelThe basic metabolic panel is a group of blood tests that provides information about your body's metabolism.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the chest CT scan of the chestA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pulmonary function tests to measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioningPulmonary function testsPulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatment is aimed at the condition that causes respiratory alkalosis. Breathing into a paper bag -- or using a mask that causes you to re-breathe carbon dioxide -- sometimes helps reduce symptoms when anxiety is the main cause of the condition. Outlook (Prognosis) Outlook depends on the condition that is causing the respiratory alkalosis. Possible Complications Seizures may occur if the alkalosis is extremely severe. This is very rare and more likely to happen if the alkalosis is due to increased ventilation from a breathing machine. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you have any symptoms of lung disease, such as long-term (chronic) cough or shortness of breath.Open ReferencesReferencesMcCoin NS, Self WH. Acid-base disorders. In: Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 113.Sanghavi S, Albert TJ. Acid-base balance. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 12.Seifter JL. Acid-base disorders. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 110.