|
What
Happens When We Over-Breath and Lose Carbon Dioxide?
Let's
take a look at what carbon dioxide does for us, and from this we
can ascertain what a deficiency may mean:
1.
Oxygenation
Carbon
dioxide regulates oxygen departure from blood and a fall in carbon
dioxide results in reduced oxygenation of tissue and vital organs
(Verigo-Bohr Effect). Poor oxygenation leads to myriad complaints.
2.
Acid/Alkali Balance and the Immune System
Carbon
dioxide, through its conversion to carbonic acid, is the most important
regulator of our acid/base balance. A lowering of carbon dioxide
results in a shift of the body's pH toward alkalinity, which changes
the rate of activity of all body ferments. An alkaline system is
much more susceptible to virus and allergy as it compromises the
immune system. A great deal of information is available about the
role of pH in the process of binding of the antibody with the antigen.
A deviation of the pH from a certain optimum results in a decrease
in the affinity and therefore in the weakening of the immune reaction.
3.
Vessels
Carbon
dioxide is a smooth muscle tissue dilator; therefore a shortage
of carbon dioxide can cause spasms of brain, bronchi and other smooth
muscle tissue. Asthma spasms and migraines are prime examples of
this situation.
4.
The Nervous System
Carbon
dioxide is a regulator of nervous system activity and a lowering
of carbon dioxide in the nerve cells heightens their excitability,
alerting all branches of the nervous system and rendering it extraordinarily
sensitive to outside stimuli. This leads to irritability, sleeplessness,
stress problems, unfounded anxiety and allergic reactions. Concurrent
with this, the breathing centre in the brain is further stimulated,
thereby causing an increase in breathing rate and a further loss
of carbon dioxide, and a vicious cycle begins.
5.
The Cardiovascular System
Carbon
dioxide is a regulator of the cardiovascular system. A depletion
of car- bon dioxide can result in angina, chest pains, high or low
arterial pressure, hypertension, stenocardia and eventually sclerosis
of vessels, myocardial infarcts and strokes.
6.
The Digestive System
There
is a direct relationship between the level of carbon dioxide and
the activity of the digestive glands, in particular the linear relationship
between the intensity of gastric secretion and the level of carbon
dioxide. A shortfall of carbon dioxide can lead to ulcers and poor
digestion.
Note
for medical professionals.
The
above reference to carbon dioxide does not specify its form (i.e.
dissolved carbon dioxide gas, carbonic acid, bicarbonates, carbonates
or carbamates). Furthermore the author has not explained the various
shunts between defensive and compensatory mechanisms that may lead
to obvious paradoxes, such as high level of CO2 in the blood of
asthmatics, and the compensating shifts between respiratory alkalosis
and metabolic acidosis.
|
