Do you get mad when you are helping with homework? Be careful of "poisoning"!

"When homework is not mentioned, the father and son are kind and filial; when homework is done, the family is in chaos."

School has started. Has your home become a massive homework-tutoring meltdown?

If so, you have to be careful! Because some time ago, a parent got so angry that he got alkali poisoning while helping his child with homework.

Image source: China Newsweek

01 What is alkalosis?

Under normal circumstances, the pH value of human blood is maintained between 7.35 and 7.45, which is slightly alkaline. This acid-base balance is the basis for the normal physiological functions of human cells. When this balance is broken and the pH value is higher than 7.45 , alkalosis will occur[1].

Alkalosis can be divided into respiratory alkalosis and metabolic alkalosis. Today we will focus on respiratory alkalosis.

Respiratory alkalosis is usually caused by excessive breathing or deep breathing due to certain reasons, which leads to excessive expulsion of carbon dioxide from the lungs , resulting in a decrease in the carbonic acid concentration in the blood and an increase in the blood pH [2].

Image source: Photo Network There are many causes of respiratory alkalosis, and diseases of many human systems may induce respiratory alkalosis [3,4]. For example, respiratory diseases such as asthma and respiratory tract infection, neurological and mental diseases such as cerebrovascular disease and hysteria, endocrine and metabolic diseases such as fever and hyperthyroidism, and pain and trauma of the human body may all induce respiratory alkalosis [5,6]. In addition, in daily life, negative emotions such as anger, tension, and anxiety may also lead to respiratory alkalosis.

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Common symptoms of respiratory alkalosis include shortness of breath, increased heart rate, numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, lips, and face. Pallor, muscle cramps or tremors in the limbs or whole body, and dizziness may also occur.

If the symptoms are not relieved in time, further symptoms such as convulsions may occur, which may be related to hypocalcemia caused by respiratory alkalosis. In more serious cases, there may be neurological dysfunction such as apathy and impaired consciousness, which indicates that alkalosis may have caused damage to the brain [2].

02 What should I do if I have respiratory alkalosis?

Once alkalosis occurs, different emergency measures should be taken according to the specific situation. For respiratory alkalosis, the following methods can be adopted:

First of all, the patient should be freed from the causes and triggers of respiratory alkalosis as soon as possible [2].

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If the patient suffers from psychogenic hyperventilation, a larger paper or plastic bag can be placed over the patient’s mouth and nose to allow the patient to inhale the exhaled carbon dioxide, thereby increasing the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood and relieving symptoms[6].

If the above measures cannot relieve symptoms, or even worsen, you need to seek medical attention in time. The doctor will give appropriate sedatives according to the situation to reduce the respiratory rate and relieve symptoms. Some patients need to supplement calcium gluconate and electrolyte drugs to correct hypocalcemia and electrolyte disorders caused by respiratory alkalosis.

03 How to prevent respiratory alkalosis?

Predicting respiratory alkalosis is not easy, but there are some preventive measures we can take to reduce our risk of developing respiratory alkalosis.

1) Avoid triggering factors

Have regular physical examinations to find out if you have any underlying diseases that may cause respiratory alkalosis. Try to avoid anger, rage, hysteria, shouting, and heavy breathing.

Maintaining healthy living habits and a good attitude, regular work and rest, a reasonable diet, and appropriate exercise will all help regulate the body's acid-base balance and reduce the risk of alkalosis.

2) Control your breathing

Learning abdominal breathing or deep breathing techniques, especially when you are emotionally agitated, can help stabilize your breathing rate and prevent excessive exhalation of carbon dioxide.

Image source: Life Times

3) Manage your emotions

When tutoring children with their homework, parents should learn to control their emotions and can try the following methods to manage their emotions.

Deep Breathing and Meditation : Before you feel emotional, calm your mind with deep breathing and meditation.

Set reasonable expectations : Understand your child’s learning ability and progress, and set reasonable homework goals and time management plans.

Be patient : Every child learns at a different speed and in a different way, so they need to be guided patiently and avoid being impatient.

Rest and relaxation : Long and intense tutoring is stressful for both children and parents. Taking regular breaks and doing some relaxing activities can help relieve stress.

When helping children with their homework, parents' emotional management is crucial. By taking deep breaths, maintaining reasonable expectations, and being patient, it not only helps prevent respiratory alkalosis, but also creates a more harmonious and positive learning environment for children.

References

[1] Qian Ruizhe. Pathophysiology (9th edition). [M]. Beijing People's Medical Publishing House, 2018: 6-63.

[2] Li Qiang. Internal Medicine (9th Edition). [M]. Beijing People's Medical Publishing House, 2018: 780-781.

[3]Xu Guangrun. Respiratory alkalosis[J]. New Medicine, 1986(9).

[4] Chen Wenjuan, Li Li, Wu Liping. Respiratory alkalosis (analysis of 564 cases)[J]. Shaanxi Medical Journal, 1988.

[5] Song Xiaocheng, Huang Bin, Fang Zhirong, et al. 31 cases of respiratory alkalosis caused by psychogenic hyperventilation[J]. Internal Medicine, 2008, 003(006):992-992.

[6] Xie Xiaomei. Using simple plastic bags to assist in correcting respiratory alkalosis[J]. Chinese Journal of Misdiagnosis, 2010(5):1.

Author: Shi Zhaowen, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Pudong Central Hospital

Planning & Editing: Ding Dong