Glossary termPhysiology

Hypercapnia

Elevated CO₂ in the blood. It can occur in controlled respiratory research, but clinically significant hypercapnia can be dangerous.

Breath holds and reduced ventilation can raise CO₂ temporarily. Performance on repeated breath tasks may improve through technique, familiarity, perception, and physiological adaptation; a home timer does not establish a safe arterial CO₂ threshold.

See also