5 Possible Causes of High CO2 Levels

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless and colorless gas made by the body. Normally, once it passes through the bloodstream to the lungs, it’s expelled from a person’s breath. However, high levels of CO2 in the body can cause serious issues in which emergency services become necessary. Medical professionals use CO2 monitoring devices to recognize this issue and address it. Here are a few causes of high levels of CO2:

Breathing Issues

One reason for CO2 monitoring is related to respiratory issues. If a patient is unable to release regular amounts of this gas through breathing, it continues to collect in the bloodstream. If the patient isn’t able to bring in enough oxygen, they enter a state of hypercapnia.

Blood Disorders

Higher CO2 levels aren’t simply related to breathing issues. If those tests are normal, then the patient is checked for certain blood disorders. Among the most common related to higher CO2 levels is metabolic alkalosis. This occurs when digestive issues disrupt the acid-base balance, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide.

Cushing’s Disease

Unfortunately, controlling breathing when dealing with asthma has the side effect of generating more CO2 in the blood. This is a condition called Cushing’s disease. It’s caused by the overuse of cortisol medication for chronic asthma or a tumor on the pituitary glands.

Adrenal Gland Issues

Another blood disorder where CO2 monitoring is required is hyperaldosteronism. Here, the hormone called aldosterone is overproduced in one or both of your body’s adrenal glands. This natural substance normally helps control the proper levels of potassium and sodium in a patient’s blood. However, when the balance shifts it changes this fluid’s base levels. One result is elevated CO2 levels.

Kidney Failure

When kidneys are healthy, they help remove naturally made acids from the body through urine. However, when they’re in the midst of failure, they can’t remove enough of it and the pH balance is shifted. In this situation, called metabolic acidosis, CO2 remains in the bloodstream and continues to build until the issue is controlled.

Companies like Coast Biomedical Equipment provide proper medical accessories, supplies and equipment needed for CO2 monitoring and other emergency service needs.