Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It SoundsAssociated SymptomsCausesTreatmentComplications and Risk FactorsDiagnosisWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Sounds
Associated Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Complications and Risk Factors
Diagnosis
When to See a Provider
Kussmaulbreathing is a pattern of long, deep breaths in rapid succession. It is the body’s natural response to high acid levels in the blood frommetabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. One cause of metabolic acidosis isdiabetic ketoacidosis.
This article will discuss Kussmaul breathing and its various causes and considerations in management.
Signs of a Medical EmergencyDeep, rapid breathing is a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or arrange transport to the nearest emergency room if you note this breathing in yourself or someone else.Rapid respiratory rate and difficulty breathing can be a sign of serious and life-threatening conditions, like heart attack, respiratory failure, and metabolic acidosis.
Signs of a Medical Emergency
Deep, rapid breathing is a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or arrange transport to the nearest emergency room if you note this breathing in yourself or someone else.Rapid respiratory rate and difficulty breathing can be a sign of serious and life-threatening conditions, like heart attack, respiratory failure, and metabolic acidosis.
Deep, rapid breathing is a sign of a medical emergency. Call 911 or arrange transport to the nearest emergency room if you note this breathing in yourself or someone else.
Rapid respiratory rate and difficulty breathing can be a sign of serious and life-threatening conditions, like heart attack, respiratory failure, and metabolic acidosis.
What Does Kussmaul Breathing Sound Like?
Kussmaul vs. Cheyne-Stokes Respiration
Kussmaul Breathing: Associated Symptoms
Kussmaul breathing may be associated with several other symptoms that occur when blood is too acidic, a condition known as metabolic acidosis. These symptoms are nonspecific, meaning they are common symptoms that have many potential causes, and include:
Other, more specific symptoms may help point to an underlying cause of metabolic acidosis in the presence of Kussmaul breathing.
For example, in addition to Kussmaul breathing, a person withdiabetic ketoacidosis(DKA) may have increased thirst, frequent urination, and abdominal pain. With ketoacidosis, the person’s breath may smell fruity.DKA is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Someone with uremia (abnormally high levels of waste in the blood) fromkidney failuremay also feel itchy and have muscle cramps.
Causes of Kussmaul Breathing
Kussmaul breathing occurs to compensate for metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis is a state of low blood pH that can happen when either too much acid is produced or when the kidneys cannot remove acid from the blood.
Metabolic acidosis and Kussmaul breathing have many causes, but the most common causes are:
DKA is a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes. In DKA, blood sugar levels are very high, but due to a lack of insulin, the cells in the body cannot take up and use the sugar for energy. Instead, they break down fat for energy, which causes a buildup of acid in the blood.
Uremia is a serious complication of kidney failure, when the kidneys cannot rid the body of toxins, which causes an accumulation of acid.
A buildup of lactic acid can happen when there is not enough blood flow to tissues (ischemia) or when oxygen levels in the blood are low (hypoxia). Organ failure, severe infection, and certain medications can lead to lactic acidosis.
What Medications and Substances Can Cause Kussmaul Breathing?
Overdose of certain medications can cause metabolic acidosis, leading to Kussmaul breathing:
Ingestion or exposure to certain toxins, such as the following, can also lead to metabolic acidosis and Kussmaul breathing:
How to Treat Kussmaul Breathing
Treatment of Kussmaul breathing varies based on the underlying cause, and often requires hospitalization and management in acritical care unit. Temporary management may include administration ofbicarbonateto help correct the blood pH.
In DKA, hydration with intravenous (IV) fluids and the administration ofinsulinare needed.For uremia, renal replacement therapy withdialysisis often required.
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With Kussmaul Breathing
Metabolic acidosis can range from mild to severe to life-threatening. Once Kussmaul breathing has developed, metabolic acidosis is severe and requires urgent treatment.
Complications of metabolic acidosis include:
Risk factors for metabolic acidosis and Kussmaul breathing include:
Are There Tests to Diagnose Kussmaul Breathing?
Certain blood and imaging tests are performed to evaluate for underlying causes, such as:
Chest imaging can include evaluations such as achest X-rayorcomputed tomography (CT) scan. Images from these scans can show the condition of the lungs and the presence of other conditions that cause rapid respiration, including a lung infection (pneumonia), collapsed lung (pneumothorax), or blood clots (pulmonary embolism).
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Other symptoms to look for and seek emergency medical care include;
Underlying conditions like diabetes and kidney failure are common causes of metabolic acidosis, and they also increase your risk of heart attack. If you have these conditions and experience rapid breathing, seek medical attention immediately.
Summary
Common causes are diabetic ketoacidosis, kidney failure, and lactic acidosis from serious illness or organ failure. Treatment varies based on the underlying cause and typically requires hospitalization with intensive care.
11 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.Gallo de Moraes A, Surani S.Effects of diabetic ketoacidosis in the respiratory system.World J Diabetes. 2019;10(1):16-22. doi:10.4239/wjd.v10.i1.16Somers V, Karim S, et al.Upright Cheyne-Stokes respiration in heart failure: look but don’t touch.J Am Coll Cardiol.2020;75(23):2947–2949. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.055National Kidney Foundation.Metabolic acidosis.MedlinePlus.Breath odor.Cleveland Clinic.Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA).National Kidney Foundation.Kidney failure.MedlinePlus:Metabolic acidosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.MedlinePlus.Lactic acidosis.Jung, B., Martinez, M., Claessens, YE., et al.Diagnosis and management of metabolic acidosis: guidelines from a French expert panel.Ann. Intensive Care.2019;9(92). doi:10.1186/s13613-019-0563-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
11 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.Gallo de Moraes A, Surani S.Effects of diabetic ketoacidosis in the respiratory system.World J Diabetes. 2019;10(1):16-22. doi:10.4239/wjd.v10.i1.16Somers V, Karim S, et al.Upright Cheyne-Stokes respiration in heart failure: look but don’t touch.J Am Coll Cardiol.2020;75(23):2947–2949. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.055National Kidney Foundation.Metabolic acidosis.MedlinePlus.Breath odor.Cleveland Clinic.Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA).National Kidney Foundation.Kidney failure.MedlinePlus:Metabolic acidosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.MedlinePlus.Lactic acidosis.Jung, B., Martinez, M., Claessens, YE., et al.Diagnosis and management of metabolic acidosis: guidelines from a French expert panel.Ann. Intensive Care.2019;9(92). doi:10.1186/s13613-019-0563-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
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.
Gallo de Moraes A, Surani S.Effects of diabetic ketoacidosis in the respiratory system.World J Diabetes. 2019;10(1):16-22. doi:10.4239/wjd.v10.i1.16Somers V, Karim S, et al.Upright Cheyne-Stokes respiration in heart failure: look but don’t touch.J Am Coll Cardiol.2020;75(23):2947–2949. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.055National Kidney Foundation.Metabolic acidosis.MedlinePlus.Breath odor.Cleveland Clinic.Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA).National Kidney Foundation.Kidney failure.MedlinePlus:Metabolic acidosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.MedlinePlus.Lactic acidosis.Jung, B., Martinez, M., Claessens, YE., et al.Diagnosis and management of metabolic acidosis: guidelines from a French expert panel.Ann. Intensive Care.2019;9(92). doi:10.1186/s13613-019-0563-2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
Gallo de Moraes A, Surani S.Effects of diabetic ketoacidosis in the respiratory system.World J Diabetes. 2019;10(1):16-22. doi:10.4239/wjd.v10.i1.16
Somers V, Karim S, et al.Upright Cheyne-Stokes respiration in heart failure: look but don’t touch.J Am Coll Cardiol.2020;75(23):2947–2949. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.04.055
National Kidney Foundation.Metabolic acidosis.
MedlinePlus.Breath odor.
Cleveland Clinic.Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA).
National Kidney Foundation.Kidney failure.
MedlinePlus:Metabolic acidosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetic ketoacidosis.
MedlinePlus.Lactic acidosis.
Jung, B., Martinez, M., Claessens, YE., et al.Diagnosis and management of metabolic acidosis: guidelines from a French expert panel.Ann. Intensive Care.2019;9(92). doi:10.1186/s13613-019-0563-2
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease.
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