Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosisSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
Seeking Medical Care
Hypoventilation, or shallow, short breathing, causes carbon dioxide to build up in the blood and decreases oxygen levels.Causes include having obesity, genetic mutations, and certain underlying conditions.For some people, there is no known cause.
A healthcare provider may perform one or more tests to determine the underlying cause of hypoventilation and determine the best treatment approach.
This article discusses the symptoms and potential causes of hypoventilation. It will also cover risk factors and when to seek tests or treatment for symptoms.
Critical SymptomsIf you are experiencing symptoms such as blue skin or lips, chest pain, or shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.
Critical Symptoms
If you are experiencing symptoms such as blue skin or lips, chest pain, or shortness of breath, call 911 immediately.
Symptoms of Hypoventilation
Short, shallow breaths characterize hypoventilation. It can lead to carbon dioxide buildup and decreased oxygen, causing additional symptoms, including the following:
Causes of Hypoventilation
There are various potential causes of hypoventilation. The most common causes are:
Pickwickian syndrome, also called obesity hypoventilation syndrome, is a breathing condition in some people experiencing obesity. Excess weight is a risk factor for this condition since extra weight around the neck, face, and stomach can make it hard to take deep breaths. Being overweight also produces excess hormones that can impact breathing patterns.
Primary alveolar hypoventilation is a rare disorder with shorter breaths per minute. The primary cause is unknown. The lungs and airways usually appear normal.
Congenital central hypoventilation impacts your breathing due to a genetic mutation in the PHOX2B gene, which instructs the body to make a protein that helps support nerve cell formation in theautonomic nervous system. This part of your nervous system controls involuntary bodily functions, like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. The PHOX2B mutation makes these functions unregulated.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which your breathing pauses during sleep. Symptoms include snoring or gasping in your sleep, poor quality sleep, or daytime sleepiness.
What Is the Treatment for Hypoventilation?
Treatment options depend on what is causing hypoventilation. Options include medications, mechanical devices, or lifestyle changes to lose weight, such as:
Tests to Diagnose Hypoventilation
In addition to a physical exam, a healthcare provider may perform one of the following tests to diagnose hypoventilation:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Some signs and symptoms indicate you need to see a healthcare provider, while others may require emergency medical attention.
Call your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following symptoms:
Contact 911 right away if you experience the following:
Summary
Hypoventilation develops when oxygen levels are too low, and carbon dioxide levels are too high. The most common causes of hypoventilation are being a person with obesity, a genetic mutation, and sleep apnea. A healthcare provider can determine how to diagnose hypoventilation using various tests.
There are many treatment options for hypoventilation, though treatment response varies. If you are undergoing treatment for hypoventilation, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations closely and contact them before making changes to your treatment plan.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hypoventilation.MedlinePlus.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.National Institutes of Health.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.MedlinePlus.Primary alveolar hypoventilation.National Institutes of Health.Sleep apnea.Elsevier.Respiratory stimulants: Nursing pharmacology.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP.CDC:Healthy weight, nutrition, and physical activity.MedlinePlus:Arterial blood gas test.John Hopkins Medicine.Chest x-ray.American Lung Association.CT scan.MedlinePlus.Hematocrit test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin test.American Lung Association.Lung function tests.Singh S, Khan SZ, Singh D, Verma S, Talwar A.The uses of overnight pulse oximetry.Lung India. 2020;37(2):151-157. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_302_19Sleep Foundation.Sleep study.
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hypoventilation.MedlinePlus.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.National Institutes of Health.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.MedlinePlus.Primary alveolar hypoventilation.National Institutes of Health.Sleep apnea.Elsevier.Respiratory stimulants: Nursing pharmacology.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP.CDC:Healthy weight, nutrition, and physical activity.MedlinePlus:Arterial blood gas test.John Hopkins Medicine.Chest x-ray.American Lung Association.CT scan.MedlinePlus.Hematocrit test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin test.American Lung Association.Lung function tests.Singh S, Khan SZ, Singh D, Verma S, Talwar A.The uses of overnight pulse oximetry.Lung India. 2020;37(2):151-157. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_302_19Sleep Foundation.Sleep study.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Hypoventilation.MedlinePlus.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.National Institutes of Health.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.MedlinePlus.Primary alveolar hypoventilation.National Institutes of Health.Sleep apnea.Elsevier.Respiratory stimulants: Nursing pharmacology.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP.CDC:Healthy weight, nutrition, and physical activity.MedlinePlus:Arterial blood gas test.John Hopkins Medicine.Chest x-ray.American Lung Association.CT scan.MedlinePlus.Hematocrit test.MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin test.American Lung Association.Lung function tests.Singh S, Khan SZ, Singh D, Verma S, Talwar A.The uses of overnight pulse oximetry.Lung India. 2020;37(2):151-157. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_302_19Sleep Foundation.Sleep study.
MedlinePlus.Hypoventilation.
MedlinePlus.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
National Institutes of Health.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
MedlinePlus.Primary alveolar hypoventilation.
National Institutes of Health.Sleep apnea.
Elsevier.Respiratory stimulants: Nursing pharmacology.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP.
CDC:Healthy weight, nutrition, and physical activity.
MedlinePlus:Arterial blood gas test.
John Hopkins Medicine.Chest x-ray.
American Lung Association.CT scan.
MedlinePlus.Hematocrit test.
MedlinePlus.Hemoglobin test.
American Lung Association.Lung function tests.
Singh S, Khan SZ, Singh D, Verma S, Talwar A.The uses of overnight pulse oximetry.Lung India. 2020;37(2):151-157. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_302_19
Sleep Foundation.Sleep study.
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