MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Hypoventilation

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Hypoventilation

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Definition

Definition

Hypoventilation is breathing that is not adequate to meet the needs of the body (too shallow or too slow), or reduced lung function. Hypoventilation results in inadequate oxygenation of and a rise in the carbon dioxide level in the blood.

Update Date: 5/6/2003

Updated by: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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