Normal CO2 Levels in Blood
Carbon dioxide allowed in drugs for humans is 130 times higher than the current atmospheric content of carbon dioxide gas. So what gives? The normal CO2 levels in blood is in the range of 30 – 40mm of Hg. High or low levels of carbon dioxide leads to hypercapnia or hypocapnia respectively. 
This article gives you information on this subject.
CO2 is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide, one of the gaseous variants of the element Carbon, which is also present in our body and is an essential constituent. Though it is more synonymous with the harmful Greenhouse gases which are responsible for the Ozone depletion, it is very much an important constituent of our body. If the normal CO2 levels in blood drops, we may suffer from cerebral vasoconstriction plus many other issues.
The permissible levels of CO2 in blood is only 5{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117} in case of drugs. The basic reason behind raising the normal CO2 levels in body is because of the function of carbon dioxide. It helps balance the oxygen levels in certain medical conditions like apnea. It also acts as a stimulant for more oxygen intake. Apnea or sleep apnea is a disorder in which the oxygen levels decrease in the body. We will now see the symptoms and repercussions of varying normal carbon dioxide levels in blood in the following paragraphs.
High carbon dioxide levels in blood is usually noticed in smokers as they inhale carbon monoxide which again is very harmful. Readings of increased levels of CO2 in blood is anything above 45 mm of Hg and this condition of the body is called hypercapnia. Hypercapnia is caused by various reasons, one of which is hypoventilation. As the name suggests, hypo-ventillation is related to the exchange of gases in our body with the atmosphere.
An interesting fact here is that the percentage of carbon dioxide allowed in the administration of drugs for humans is 5{154653b9ea5f83bbbf00f55de12e21cba2da5b4b158a426ee0e27ae0c1b44117}, as mentioned earlier, but if compared with the normal atmospheric content of carbon dioxide gas, it is 130 times higher!
Symptoms of Hypercapnia
Headache
High blood pressure
Flushed skin
Lethargy
Slack neural activity
Muscle twitching
Extra systoles
It is not that the body segregates carbon dioxide and keeps it in. What happens exactly in this condition is that the body is not able to exhale the inhaled air completely.
Low carbon dioxide levels in blood can cause symptoms that might go unnoticed because, the symptoms in early stages of hypocapnia are similar to those when one is fatigued or sleep deprived. The following list gives you the symptoms. It is important to note that these are also signs of carbon dioxide poisoning.
Symptoms of Hypocapnia
Optical malfunction
Anxiety
Muscle cramps
Visual blackouts
Panic attacks
Dizziness
Hypocapnia is observed in cases of hyperventilation. This term is the opposite of hypoventillation, as explained above. This condition triggers increase in the alkaline levels in the body. The reason behind this reaction is that the pH levels get increased because one of the functions of CO2 is to balance the acid levels in the body.
Hope this article helps you in keeping a tab on the symptoms mentioned here and take better care of yourself.
Read more at Buzzle: www.buzzle.com
Trackback from your site.