Hypoventilation. Causes[edit] It can be caused by medical conditions, such as stroke affecting the brainstem, by holding one's breath, like during hypoventilation training,[2] or by drugs, typically when taken in overdose. Hypocapnia stimulates hypoventilation. Hypoventilation may also occur in chronic mountain sickness to conserve energy.[3] Effects[edit] As a side effect of medicines or recreational drugs, hypoventilation may become potentially life-threatening. Treatment[edit] Respiratory stimulants such as nikethamide were traditionally used to counteract respiratory depression from CNS depressant overdose, but were of only limited effectiveness. If the respiratory depression is from opioid overdose, then the overdose itself is usually treated with an inverse agonist, most likely naloxone, which will itself almost instantaneously stop the respiratory depression if caused by an opioid (and also, depending on the dose, plunge the patient into precipitated withdrawal).
Associated conditions[edit] Shallow breathing. In upper lobar breathing, clavicular breathing, or clavicle breathing air is drawn predominantly into the chest by the raising of the shoulders and collarbone (clavicles), and simultaneous contracting of the abdomen during inhalation.[1] Maximum amount of air can be drawn this way only for short periods of time, since it requires a lot of effort. When used for prolonged time, this is the most superficial mode of shallow breathing. Conditions[edit] Shallow breathing, also known medically as hypopnea, may result in hypoventilation, which could cause a build up of carbon dioxide in an individual's body, a symptom known as hypercapnia. It's a condition related to neuro-muscular disorders (NMDs) that include Lou Gehrig's Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, Polio, Post-Polio Syndrome and others.
It is a serious condition if not diagnosed properly, or if it's ignored. The writings of Dr. See also[edit] Thoracic cavity References[edit] Further reading[edit] Bach, J.R. (1999). See also[edit] References[edit] Myasthenia gravis. Classification[edit] The most widely accepted classification of myasthenia gravis is the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Clinical Classification:[3] Signs and symptoms[edit] The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is fatigability.
Muscles become progressively weaker during periods of activity and improve after periods of rest. Muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expressions, chewing, talking, and swallowing are especially susceptible. The muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movements can also be affected. Often, the physical examination yields results within normal limits.[4] The onset of the disorder can be sudden.
In myasthenic crisis a paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs, necessitating assisted ventilation to sustain life. Pathophysiology[edit] A juvenile thymus shrinks with age. Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune channelopathy: it features antibodies directed against proteins that are naturally present in the body. Associated condition[edit] Neuromuscular disease. Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that impair the functioning of the muscles, either directly, being pathologies of the muscle, or indirectly, being pathologies of nerves or neuromuscular junctions.
Neuromuscular diseases are those that affect the muscles and/or their direct nervous system control. In general, problems with central (or upper motor neuron) nervous control can cause either spasticity (from upper motor neuron conditions) or some degree of paralysis (from both lower and upper motor neuron disorders, upper motor neuron conditions usually being associated with concurrent hyperreflexia), depending on the location and the nature of the problem. A large proportion of neurological disorders leads to problems with movement. Symptoms and testing[edit] Causes, including autoimmune diseases and poisoning[edit] Myopathies are all diseases primarily resulting in muscular degeneration, rather than affecting the nerves themselves. Hypopnea. Hypopnea (sometimes spelled hypopnœa) is a medical term for a disorder which involves episodes of overly shallow breathing or an abnormally low respiratory rate.
Hypopnea is less severe than apnea (which is a more complete loss of airflow). It may likewise result in a decreased amount of air movement into the lungs and can cause oxygen levels in the blood to drop. It more commonly is due to partial obstruction of the upper airway. During sleep, hypopnea is classed as a sleep disorder. With moderate to severe hypopnea, sleep is disturbed such that patients may get a full night's sleep but still not feel rested because they did not get the right kind of sleep. The disruption in breathing causes a drop in blood oxygen level, which may in turn disrupt the stages of sleep. Daytime hypopnea events are mostly limited to those with severely compromised respiratory muscles, as occurs in certain neuromuscular diseases. Etymology[edit] General information[edit] Causes[edit] Symptoms[edit] Hypopnea Info. Forms: Move cursor to the end of text in a textbox. Scleroderma: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
Scleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of scar-like tissue in the skin. It also damages the cells the line the walls of the small arteries. Causes Scleroderma is a type of autoimmune disorder, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. The cause of scleroderma is unknown. A buildup of a substance called collagen in the skin and other organs leads to the symptoms of the disease. The disease most often affects people 30 to 50 years old. Widespread scleroderma can occur with other autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis.These cases are referred to as mixed connective disease.
Symptoms Some types of scleroderma affect only the skin, while others affect the whole body. Localized scleroderma. Skin symptoms of scleroderma may include: Bone and muscle symptoms may include: Joint painNumbness and pain in the feetPain, stiffness, and swelling of fingers and jointsWrist pain Dry coughShortness of breathWheezing Treatment. Pulmonary hypertension: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Pulmonary hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
It makes the right side of the heart work harder than normal. Causes, Incidence, and Risk Factors The right side of the heart pumps blood through the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. Blood returns to the left side of the heart, where it is pumped to the rest of the body. When the small arteries (blood vessels) of the lung become narrowed, they cannot carry as much blood. When this happens, pressure builds up. This is called pulmonary hypertension. The heart needs to work harder to force the blood through the vessels against this pressure.
At this point, heart failure affects the right side of the heart. Pulmonary hypertension may be caused by: In many patients, the cause of pulmonary hypertension is unknown. If pulmonary hypertension is caused by a known medicine or medical condition, it is called secondary pulmonary hypertension. Symptoms Other symptoms include: Exams and Tests Tests may include: Treatment. Breathing difficulty: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Breathing difficulty may involve difficult breathing, uncomfortable breathing, or feeling like you are not getting enough air into your lungs. Considerations No standard definition exists for difficulty breathing. Some people may feel breathless with only mild exercise (for example, climbing stairs), even though they do not have a medical condition. Others may have advanced lung disease but never feel short of breath.
Wheezing is one form of breathing difficulty in which you make a high-pitched sound when you breathe out. Causes Shortness of breath has many different causes. For example, heart disease can cause breathlessness if your heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Breathing difficulty may also be due to problems with the lungs, airways, or other health problems. Problems with the lungs: Problems with the airways leading to the lungs: Problems with the heart: Other: Home Care Sometimes, mild breathing difficulty may be normal and is not cause for concern. Sarcoidosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.
Sarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, or other tissues. Causes The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown. What is known is that when a person has the disease, tiny clumps of abnormal tissue (granulomas) form in certain organs of the body. Granulomas are clusters of immune cells. The disease can affect almost any organ of the body. It most commonly affects the lungs. Doctors think that with sarcoidosis, persons have genes that make it easy for them to develop the disease. The disease is more common in African-Americans and Caucasians of Scandinavian heritage. The disease often begins between ages 20 and 40. A person with a close blood relative who has sarcoidosis is nearly five times as likely to develop the condition. Symptoms There may be no symptoms. Almost all patients have lung or chest symptoms: Symptoms of general discomfort: Skin symptoms: Nervous system symptoms may include: Eye symptoms include: Other symptoms of this disease:
Respiratory acidosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This causes body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic. Causes Causes of respiratory acidosis include: Diseases of the airways (such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease)Diseases of the chest (such as scoliosis)Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflateDrugs that suppress breathing (including powerful pain medicines, such as narcotics, and "downers," such as benzodiazepines), especially when combined with alcoholSevere obesity, which restricts how much the lungs can expand Chronic respiratory acidosis occurs over a long period of time.
Acute respiratory acidosis is a condition in which carbon dioxide builds up very quickly and before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance. Symptoms Symptoms may include: ConfusionEasy fatigueLethargyShortness of breathSleepiness Exams and tests Treatment. Dr. Joseph Mercola: Avoid This If You Want To Keep Your Thyroid Healthy. If you are like most people, you probably haven't spent much time thinking about how much bromine you're absorbing from your car upholstery or your Mountain Dew.
But bromine toxicity is a definite danger from some surprising sources, and it can wreak havoc on your health. Bromines All Around You Bromines are common endocrine disruptors, and are part of the halide family, a group of elements that includes fluorine, chlorine and iodine. What makes it so dangerous is that it competes for the same receptors that are used to capture iodine. If you are exposed to a lot of bromine, your body will not hold on to the iodine that it needs. And iodine affects every tissue in your body -- not just your thyroid. You are already exposed to far too much chlorine and bromine. •Pesticides (specifically methyl bromide, used mainly on strawberries, predominantly in California) •Plastics, like those used to make computers •Bakery goods and some flours often contain a "dough conditioner" called potassium bromate.