hypoventilation

(noun)

Respiratory depression, occurring when ventilation is inadequate to perform the necessary gas exchange, which may be caused by certain medical conditions, by holding one's breath, or by drug overdose.

Related Terms

Examples of hypoventilation in the following topics:

  • The Reason for Breathing

    • Acidosis can be caused by hypoventilation (too little breathing), which reduces the removal rate of carbon dioxide, causing it to build up in the bloodstream along with hydrogen.
    • Thankfully, negative feedback mechanisms exist so that hyperventilation and hypoventilation can be corrected.

  • Disorders of Acid-Base Balance

    • Compensation for metabolic alkalosis occurs mainly in the lungs, which retain carbon dioxide (CO2) through slower breathing, or hypoventilation (respiratory compensation).
    • Respiratory acidosis is a medical condition in which decreased ventilation (hypoventilation) causes increased blood carbon dioxide concentration and decreased pH (a condition generally called acidosis).

  • Chemical Composition of Bone

    • Compensation for metabolic alkalosis occurs mainly in the lungs, which retain carbon dioxide (CO2) through slower breathing, or hypoventilation (respiratory compensation).
    • Respiratory acidosis is a medical condition in which decreased ventilation (hypoventilation) causes an increase in blood carbon dioxide concentration and decreased pH (a condition generally called acidosis).

  • Breathing Patterns

    • It is important to distinguish these terms from hyperventilation and hypoventilation, which refer to abnormalities in alveolar gas exchange (and thus blood pH) instead of an altered breathing pattern, but they may be associated with an altered breathing pattern.

  • Acidosis

    • Respiratory acidosis results from a build-up of CO2 in the blood (hypercapnia) due to hypoventilation.

  • Intubation During Anesthesia

    • Intubation may be necessary for patients with decreased oxygen content and oxygen saturation of the blood caused when their breathing is inadequate (hypoventilation), suspended (apnea), or when the lungs are unable to sufficiently transfer gasses to the blood.

  • Hypoxia

    • Hypoxemic hypoxia may be due to hypoventilation or inadequate pulmonary minute ventilation (e.g., respiratory arrest or by drugs such as opiates).

  • Carbon Dioxide Transport

    • This connection explains how ventilation rate and blood chemistry are related, as hyperventilation will cause acidosis, and hypoventilation will cause alkalosis, due to the changes in carbon dioxide levels that they cause.