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Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This disrupts the body's acid-base balance causing body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic.
Alternative NamesVentilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratory
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsCauses of respiratory acidosis include:
- Diseases of the airways (such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease), which send air into and out of the lungs
- Diseases of the chest (such as scoliosis), which make the lungs less efficient at filling and emptying
- Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflate
- Drugs that suppress breathing (including powerful pain medicines, such as narcotics, and "downers," such as benzodiazepines), especially when combined with alcohol
- Severe obesity, which restricts how much the lungs can expand
Chronic respiratory acidosis occurs over a long period of time. This leads to a stable situation, because the kidneys increase body chemicals, such as bicarbonate, that help restore the body's acid-base balance.
Acute respiratory acidosis is a severe condition in which carbon dioxide builds up very quickly and before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance.
SymptomsSymptoms may include:
- Confusion
- Easy fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Sleepiness
- Arterial blood gas (measures levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood; in respiratory acidosis, the level of carbon dioxide is too high)
- Chest x-ray
- Pulmonary function test
Treatment is aimed at the underlying lung disease, and may include:
- Bronchodilator drugs to reverse some types of airway obstruction
- Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (sometimes called CPAP or BiPAP) or mechanical ventilation if needed
- Oxygen if the blood oxygen level is low
- Treatment to stop smoking
How well you do depends on the disease causing the respiratory acidosis.
Complications- Poor organ function
- Respiratory failure
- Shock
Severe respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition.
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of lung disease.
PreventionDo not smoke. Smoking leads to the development of many severe lung diseases that can cause respiratory acidosis.
Losing weight may help prevent respiratory acidosis due to obesity (obesity-hypoventilation syndrome).
Be careful about taking sedating medicines, and never combine these medicines with alcohol.
ReferencesSeifter, JL. Acid base disorders. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 2007: chap 119.
What else can I help you with?
What is the prognosis for respiratory acidosis?
The prognosis for respiratory acidosis depends on the underlying cause, how quickly it is identified and treated, and the overall health of the individual. If treated promptly and effectively, most cases of respiratory acidosis can be reversed with minimal long-term consequences. However, severe or prolonged respiratory acidosis can lead to serious complications and even be life-threatening.
What is the Medical term meaning decreased blood pH?
Usually, this acidity is caused by metabolism or respiration. Then it is called " respiratory acidosis" or "non-respiratory acidosis" (metabolic acidosis). These conditions might cause acidemia.
When can respiratory acidosis occur?
There are multiple issues that can lead to respiratory acidosis, but respiratory acidosis is defined as when the lungs cannot eliminate CO2, which leads to buildup of carbonic acid (traditionally broken down into CO2 and Water in the lungs).
When someone breathes rapidly is this respiratory acidosis?
No. If you breathe too fast, you will blow off too much carbon dioxide, and cause respiratory alkalosis, wich is the opposite of respiratory acidosis,
Examples of acidosis?
Acidosis is high levels of acidity in the blood and other body tissue, occuring when the arterial pH falls below 7.35. The two types of acidosis are metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis.
What is the most common cause of acid base imbalance?
The most common cause of acid-base imbalance is respiratory alkalosis or acidosis, often due to hyperventilation or respiratory failure. Metabolic acidosis or alkalosis can also occur from conditions such as renal failure, diabetes, or dehydration.
What would cause metabolic alkalosis to slide into metabolic acidosis?
respiratory alkalosis would cause metabolic acidosis
What role does carbon dioxide play in producing respiratory acidosis?
Respiratory acidosis is caused by any condition that interferes with the ability of the lungs to exchange gases, specifically to remove carbon dioxide from blood. And there is an elevated carbon dioxide level in blood with acidosis.
Can excessive oxygen administration results in respiratory acidosis?
Yes
What is a sign of respiratory acidosis?
shallow breathing due to obstruction
What is Chronic Respiratory Acidosis?
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Can global warming cause respiratory acidosis?
respiratory acidosis is a metobolic imbalance caused by internal factors....factors inside the body. not an environment factors such as global warming. Angie RN
