Hypoxia and Medicine

mild hypoxia stimulates respiration,why does severe hypoxia depresses the same?

regulation of respiration pao2 and paco2 ph effects of hypoxia on respiration

Public Comments

1. Hello, I agree that mild hypoxia stimulates respiration to an extent, but my understanding has always been that the great majority of respiratory stimulation if you stop breathing is caused by the rise in carbon dioxide in the blood, hypercapnia. In severe hypoxia, the brain is getting close to death and is not very good at doing anything. Hope this is of some help. Best wishes, Belliger (retired uk gp)