Science desk
< March 17	<< Feb \| March \| Apr >>	March 19 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Science Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

March 18[edit]

co2 clearance[edit]

Let's say you get mild hypercapnia by breathing stale air (immediate cause is wearing a respirator mask[1] while shopping). How long does it usually take to clear? Healthy person, not medical, wondering if it is normal for it to take a while, like hours. Thanks. 2602:24A:DE47:B8E0:1B43:29FD:A863:33CA (talk) 03:30, 18 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]

For severe hypercapnia, I found a statement that intubation with mechanical ventilation usually resolves hypercapnia within a few hours.^[2] Since the transition of the difference between a high and a standard CO₂ level can be expected to follow an exponential decay curve, it is crucial which level corresponds to "mild" and at which level the condition is considered "cleared". --Lambiam 15:44, 18 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]