Respiratory Alkalosis Treatment in India

Navya Saxena, a 28-year-old junior architect,...

Navya Saxena, a 28-year-old junior architect, was in the final, stressful weeks of a major project presentation. A perfectionist by nature, she had been working 14-hour days, surviving on coffee and experiencing constant anxiety. She arrived at the Emergency Department feeling utterly overwhelmed, with symptoms that terrified her: intense lightheadedness, tingling in her fingers and around her mouth, chest tightness, and a feeling she couldn't take a deep enough breath. Her primary care doctor, concerned by her rapid heart rate and hyperventilation, recommended an arterial blood gas (ABG) test to assess for respiratory alkalosis, a condition where excessive breathing blows off too much carbon dioxide. The ABG was a sharp, brief pinch in her wrist that confirmed the diagnosis, her blood was overly alkaline due to panic-induced hyperventilation. The treatment was non-invasive but profound: a calm nurse coached her through breathing into a paper bag (rebreathing her own CO2) and guided her in slow, diaphragmatic breathing techniques. Within 30 minutes, the tingling and dizziness subsided. The recovery outcome was excellent; the episode was a physical wake-up call. Emotionally, Navya moved from a state of sheer panic and fear of a heart attack to one of relief and self-awareness. She realized her body was sounding an alarm about her unsustainable lifestyle and began therapy for anxiety management, viewing the episode not as a failure but as a crucial lesson in self-care.