Hypocapnia (Noun)
Meaning
A state in which the level of carbon dioxide in the blood is lower than normal; can result from deep or rapid breathing.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- Rapidly breathing patients often experience hypocapnia due to the excessive expelling of carbon dioxide from the body.
- Hypocapnia can cause a person to experience lightheadedness or dizziness as a result of the reduced blood flow to the brain.
- Proper ventilation in scuba diving is essential to avoid a state of hypocapnia caused by exhaling excessive amounts of carbon dioxide.
- The patient's blood test results confirmed hypocapnia, which explained the symptoms of numbness in the fingers and toes.
- In severe cases of panic attacks, hypocapnia can cause muscle cramps and tetany due to reduced levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.