Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2022 March 18

= March 18 =

co2 clearance
Let's say you get mild hypercapnia by breathing stale air (immediate cause is wearing a respirator mask while shopping). How long does it usually take to clear? Healthy person, not medical, wondering if it is normal for it to take a while, like hours. Thanks. 2602:24A:DE47:B8E0:1B43:29FD:A863:33CA (talk) 03:30, 18 March 2022 (UTC)
 * For severe hypercapnia, I found a statement that intubation with mechanical ventilation usually resolves hypercapnia within a few hours. Since the transition of the difference between a high and a standard CO2 level can be expected to follow an exponential decay curve, it is crucial which level corresponds to "mild" and at which level the condition is considered "cleared". --Lambiam 15:44, 18 March 2022 (UTC)