Hypoventilation - wikipedia Hypoventilation Compare hypopnea, bradypnea, and hyperventilation. Hypoventilation Classification and external resources ICD - 10 R06. 8 ICD - 9 - CM 786.09 DiseasesDB 29214 MedlinePlus 002377 eMedicine med / 3470 MeSH D007040 ( edit on Wikidata ) Hypoventilation ( also known as respiratory depression ) occurs when ventilation is inadequate ( hypo meaning `` below '' ) to perform needed gas exchange. By definition it causes an increased concentration of carbon dioxide ( hypercapnia ) and respiratory acidosis. Hypoventilation is not synonymous with respiratory arrest, in which breathing ceases entirely and death occurs within minutes due to hypoxia and leads rapidly into complete anoxia, although both are medical emergencies. Hypoventilation can be considered a precursor to hypoxia and its lethality is attributed to hypoxia with carbon dioxide toxicity. Contents 1 Causes 2 Effects 3 Treatment 4 Associated conditions 5 See also 6 References Causes Hypoventilation may be caused by : A medical condition such as stroke affecting the brainstem Voluntary breath - holding or underbreathing, for example, hypoventilation training or Buteyko Medication or drugs, typically when taken in accidental or intentional overdose. Opioids in particular are known to cause respiratory depression. Examples of opioids include pharmaceuticals such as oxycodone and hydromorphone. Hypocapnia, which stimulates hypoventilation Chronic mountain sickness, a mechanism to conserve energy. Effects As a side effect of medicines or recreational drugs, hypoventilation may become potentially life - threatening. Many different central nervous system ( CNS ) depressant drugs such as ethanol, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB, sedatives and opioids produce respiratory depression when taken in large or excessive doses, or mixed with other depressants. Strong opiates ( such as fentanyl, heroin, or morphine ), barbiturates, and certain benzodiazepines ( short acting ones and alprazolam ) are known for depressing respiration. In an overdose, an individual may cease breathing entirely ( go into respiratory arrest ) which is rapidly fatal without treatment. Opioids, in overdose or combined with other depressants, are notorious for such fatalities. Treatment Respiratory stimulants such as nikethamide were traditionally used to counteract respiratory depression from CNS depressant overdose, but offered limited effectiveness. A new respiratory stimulant drug called BIMU8 is being investigated which seems to be significantly more effective and may be useful for counteracting the respiratory depression produced by opiates and similar drugs without offsetting their therapeutic effects. If the respiratory depression occurs from opioid overdose, usually an opioid antagonist, most likely naloxone, will be administered. This will rapidly reverse the respiratory depression unless complicated by other depressants. However an opioid antagonist may also precipitate an opioid withdrawal syndrome in chronic users. Associated conditions Disorders like congenital central hypoventilation syndrome ( CCHS ) and ROHHAD ( rapid - onset obesity, hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, with autonomic dysregulation ) are recognized as conditions that are associated with hypoventilation. CCHS may be a significant factor in some cases of sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS ), often termed `` cot death '' or `` crib death ''. The opposite condition is hyperventilation ( too much ventilation ), resulting in low carbon dioxide levels ( hypocapnia ), rather than hypercapnia. See also List of terms of lung size and activity Dyspnea Hyperventilation References Jump up ^ `` hypoventilation '' at Dorland 's Medical Dictionary Jump up ^ Woorons, Xavier, Hypoventilation training, push your limits ! Arpeh, 2014, 164p. ( ISBN 978 - 2 - 9546040 - 1 - 5 ) Jump up ^ Zubieta - Calleja, GR ; Paulev, PE ; Zubieta - Calleja, L ; Zubieta - Calleja, N ; Zubieta - Castillo, G ( September 2006 ). `` Hypoventilation in chronic mountain sickness : a mechanism to preserve energy ''. Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. 57 Suppl 4 : 425 -- 30. PMID 17072073. Symptoms and signs relating to the respiratory system ( R04 -- R07, 786 ) Medical examination and history taking Auscultation Stethoscope Respiratory sounds Stridor Wheeze Crackles Rhonchi Stertor Squawk Pleural friction rub Fremitus Bronchophony Terminal secretions Elicited findings Percussion Pectoriloquy Whispered pectoriloquy Egophony Breathing Rate Apnea Prematurity Dyspnea Hyperventilation Hypoventilation Hyperpnea Tachypnea Hypopnea Bradypnea Pattern Agonal respiration Biot 's respiration Cheyne -- Stokes respiration Kussmaul breathing Ataxic respiration Other Respiratory distress Respiratory arrest Orthopnea / Platypnea Trepopnea Aerophagia Asphyxia Breath holding Mouth breathing Snoring Other Chest pain In children Precordial catch syndrome Pleurisy Nail clubbing Cyanosis Cough Sputum Hemoptysis Epistaxis Silhouette sign Post-nasal drip Hiccup COPD Hoover 's sign asthma Curschmann 's spirals Charcot -- Leyden crystals chronic bronchitis Reid index sarcoidosis Kveim test pulmonary embolism Hampton hump Westermark sign pulmonary edema Kerley lines Hamman 's sign Golden S sign Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hypoventilation&oldid=842698934 '' Categories : Breathing abnormalities Hidden categories : Infobox medical condition Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Nederlands ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 24 May 2018, at 02 : 50 ( UTC ). 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Question: what is the relatively rare condition that can cause respiratory​ depression
Answer: hypoxia