"Hypo (oxia) is difficult to say, hypoxia is much easier to say!"
Thought that might be so.
A little bit like getting people to say "agoraphobia" instead of
"agraphobia". Even those who suffer from it.
Chris McDonnell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Texler, Michael" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia."
<[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 07, 2006 8:42 AM
Subject: [Aus-soaring] Hypoxia, Hyperventilation, breathing
Oxygen = Oxy (acid or sharp) and gen (forming or creating, as in genesis)
oxygen is literal "acid forming"
Hypo (oxia) is difficult to say, hypoxia is much easier to say!
You can hyperventilate and still be profoundly hypoxic if you have bung
lungs (or circulation to the lungs), the most dramatic example caused by
pulmonary embolus, whereby a blood clot (most likely from the legs in
association with "deep vein thrombosis" or "DVT") becomes lodged in the
main artery from the heart to the lungs, hence no blood circulates through
the lungs, hence very little oxygen in the blood (you are hypoxic). The
unfortunate patient hyperventilates in a vain attempt to increase the
blood oxygen level (so much so it is called "air hunger"). I have seen it
happen, it is not a pretty sight.
Also if you hyperventilate in a low oxygen atmosphere (i.e. at altitude)
you will be hypoxic as well.
Under normal circumstances (i.e. at sea level standard temperature and
pressure, with healthy lungs) adequate oxygenation is easy to maintain,
and oxygen levels don't drop below a point that makes us want to
hyperventilate (we were designed that way). What surprises most people is
that the stronger drive to make us breathe is the accumulation of carbon
dioxide in our blood (as a by product of metabolism, the combustion of
foodstuffs in our cells). Just think of that feeling you get when you hold
your breath, there is an increasing desire to breathe, this is caused by
the buildup of carbon dioxide in your blood stream, moreso than the
reduction in oxygen levels. So we breathe to blow off the carbon dioxide
produced by our bodies as well as take in oxygen.
I am a pathologist (and in a previous life worked in surgery and done
stints in anaesthesia), so I have relied upon my knowledge of respiratory
physiology from these experiences. I know that there are anaesthetists
lurking out there, perhaps they can comment.
Michael Texler
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