Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2022 March 18

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

co2 clearance

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)

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)