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Respiratory alkalosis - Overview

Alternative Names

Alkalosis - respiratory

Definition of Respiratory alkalosis:

Respiratory alkalosis is a condition marked by low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood due to breathing excessively.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Common causes include:

Anxiety
Fever
Hyperventilation

Any lung disease that leads to shortness of breath can also result in respiratory alkalosis.

Respiratory system

Reviewed last on: 11/12/2007
Andrew Schriber, M.D., F.C.C.P., Specialist in Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Virtua Memorial Hospital, Mount Holly, New Jersey. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

References

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000:192-193.

Marx J, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, Adams JF, et al. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006.

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