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.
Symptoms of Hypoventilation
Short, shallow breaths characterize hypoventilation.
bymuratdeniz / Getty Images
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.
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.
A healthcare provider can determine how to diagnose hypoventilation using various tests.
There are many treatment options for hypoventilation, though treatment response varies.
MedlinePlus.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.
National Institutes of Health.Obesity hypoventilation syndrome.
National Institutes of Health.Sleep apnea.
Elsevier.Respiratory stimulants: Nursing pharmacology.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.CPAP.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention :About healthy weight and growth.
MedlinePlus:Arterial blood gas test.
John Hopkins Medicine.Chest x-ray.
American Lung Association.CT scan.
American Lung Association.Lung function tests.
2020;37(2):151-157. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_302_19
Sleep Foundation.Sleep study.
