PaCO2

PaCO2, or partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, measures how much carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in your blood. It reflects how effectively your lungs are removing CO2, a waste product produced by your body's cells. If PaCO2 is high, it may indicate that your lungs aren’t clearing CO2 efficiently, possibly due to conditions like lung disease or hypoventilation. Conversely, low PaCO2 can suggest hyperventilation, where you're breathing too fast or deeply, reducing CO2 levels. Monitoring PaCO2 helps healthcare providers assess your respiratory function and guide treatment decisions.