4 ms·

This theory doesn't seem plausible, the very place where the body releases CO2 is the same for O2.

by balola 6y ago

taneq 6y ago
The comment about "not controlling for O2" is referring to the fact that the human body can't directly detect blood oxygen levels, and only infers them from blood CO2 levels. So if something's going wrong with the oxygen absorption process but the CO2 exhalation process is still fine, that would explain why patients have dangerously low blood oxygen but aren't panting or otherwise showing respiratory distress. (Incidentally this is also why it's really dangerous to hyperventilate before free diving, because you can put your O2 / CO2 ratio out of whack which can cause you to black out without warning while under water.)
- EForEndeavour 6y ago
  > the human body can't directly detect blood oxygen levels, and only infers them from blood CO2 levels This is not quite accurate. The body monitors blood chemistry centrally (in the brain and spinal cord) and peripherally (in the blood vessels). Central chemoreceptors only monitor pH of the cerebrospinal fluid, which indirectly tracks blood CO2, but don't monitor O2. Peripheral chemoreceptors monitor O2, CO2, and pH. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/respiration-control/ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/respi...
ordu 6y ago
But there there was low levels of O2, wouldn't it mean low levels of CO2? Body doesn't have enough O2 to produce much of CO2, seems plausible for me.
beagle3 6y ago
CO (carbon monoxide) poisoning happens the way it does for this reason: You don't feel lack of oxygen - you feel abundance of (uncleared) CO2. If you have too much CO, you lack oxygen but don't have too much CO2, you just feel sleepy/drowsy but suffocate and die unless you do something. Whether the rest of OPs theory makes sense, I don't know - but this part is indeed factual AFAIK.
rpiguy 6y ago
The virus appears to impair hematic function in the lungs. The oxygen builds up, and it is quite caustic. It creates what are called ground glass bodies. Since the oxygen is trapped in the lungs and does not move the blood very efficiently, you get hypoxia.

This theory doesn't seem plausible, the very place where the body releases CO2 is the same for O2.

by balola 6y ago

This theory doesn't seem plausible, the very place where the body releases CO2 is the same for O2.

The comment about "not controlling for O2" is referring to the fact that the human body can't directly detect blood oxygen levels, and only infers them from blood CO2 levels. So if something's going wrong with the oxygen absorption process but the CO2 exhalation process is still fine, that would explain why patients have dangerously low blood oxygen but aren't panting or otherwise showing respiratory distress. (Incidentally this is also why it's really dangerous to hyperventilate before free diving, because you can put your O2 / CO2 ratio out of whack which can cause you to black out without warning while under water.)

EForEndeavour 6y ago
> the human body can't directly detect blood oxygen levels, and only infers them from blood CO2 levels This is not quite accurate. The body monitors blood chemistry centrally (in the brain and spinal cord) and peripherally (in the blood vessels). Central chemoreceptors only monitor pH of the cerebrospinal fluid, which indirectly tracks blood CO2, but don't monitor O2. Peripheral chemoreceptors monitor O2, CO2, and pH. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/respiration-control/ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/respi...

ordu 6y ago

But there there was low levels of O2, wouldn't it mean low levels of CO2? Body doesn't have enough O2 to produce much of CO2, seems plausible for me.

beagle3 6y ago

CO (carbon monoxide) poisoning happens the way it does for this reason: You don't feel lack of oxygen - you feel abundance of (uncleared) CO2. If you have too much CO, you lack oxygen but don't have too much CO2, you just feel sleepy/drowsy but suffocate and die unless you do something. Whether the rest of OPs theory makes sense, I don't know - but this part is indeed factual AFAIK.

rpiguy 6y ago

The virus appears to impair hematic function in the lungs. The oxygen builds up, and it is quite caustic. It creates what are called ground glass bodies. Since the oxygen is trapped in the lungs and does not move the blood very efficiently, you get hypoxia.