Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of metabolism, and excessive or inadequate levels in the blood can indicate lung or kidney function problems or electrolyte imbalances. Bicarbonate, stored in the veins, helps maintain pH levels. Hypercapnia and hypocapnia can be caused by temporary or chronic conditions of the lungs or kidney disease.
Carbon dioxide in the blood is a byproduct of metabolism, in which oxygen inhaled from the air and delivered by the blood to body tissues is used to break down nutrients such as sugars and fats for energy. This process, known as cellular or aerobic respiration, explains how energy in the form of calories from food is converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which transports that energy and makes it available for use by cells, which then they release carbon dioxide back into the bloodstream as a waste product. Excessive or inadequate levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, known as hypercapnia and hypocapnia, respectively, can be indicative of lung or kidney function problems or electrolyte imbalances.
Found in the veins, the blood vessels that return deoxygenated, carbon dioxide-rich blood to the heart and lungs, carbon dioxide (CO₂) is stored primarily as bicarbonate (HCO₃). Baking soda is an alkaline substance that helps the body maintain its pH levels, which is the balance between acid and alkaline. A carbon dioxide blood test can determine the amount of bicarbonate in your blood. Normal blood carbon dioxide levels are between 20 and 29 mEq/L (milliequivalents per liter); levels that are too high or too low can be indicative of fluid retention and therefore of an electrolyte imbalance, a function maintained by the kidneys, or an interruption of normal lung function.
Hypercapnia, or excessive carbon dioxide in the blood, can be caused temporarily by vomiting when body fluid levels are too low, or chronically by kidney disease such as Cushing’s syndrome. Cushing’s, which is a hormonal disorder, can cause excessive urination and consequently low levels of potassium and CO₂. Similarly, hypocapnia is a state of inadequate carbon dioxide in a person’s blood. It can also be caused by kidney disease such as Addison’s disease. Electrolyte imbalances caused by diarrhea or a condition such as acidosis, a buildup of acid in the blood and other body fluids, can also lead to hypocapnia.
Temporary or chronic conditions of the lungs can also lead to changes in blood carbon dioxide levels. Hyper- or hypoventilation can alter the rate at which carbon dioxide is released from the lungs and thus induce hypocapnia or hypercapnia in the bloodstream. Activities such as scuba diving, in which participants inhale previously exhaled air, can also alter CO₂ levels. Lung diseases that cause disordered breathing can also alter the normal amounts of carbon dioxide in the blood.
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