Respiratory Acidosis Essay

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When the lungs are unable to remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces, it results in a condition called Respiratory Acidosis. This condition causes body fluid, especially the blood to be too acidic. There are levels of partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in that shows whether or not the blood pH is balanced. “Normal levels adult/child: 35-45 mm Hg, Child less than 2 years: 26-41 mm Hg” (National Library, 2014). Elevated amounted of PCO2 indicates a sign of respiratory acidosis. HCO3; a concentration of hydrogen carbonate in the blood is used to determine along with pH (hydrogen ions) and CO2 source of acid base imbalance. “Normal levels of HCO3 and pH values are 22-26mmol/L and 7.35 - 7.45 respectively” (National Library, 2014). Usually, the lungs take in oxygen and exhale CO2. Oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood. CO2 passes from the blood into the lungs. However, sometimes the lungs can’t remove enough CO2. This may be due to a decrease in respiratory rate or decrease in air movement due to an underlying condition such as asthma, COPD, pneumonia, or sleep apnea. This may cause respiratory acidosis. “The lungs and the kidneys are the major organs that help regulate your blood’s pH. The lungs flush out acid by exhaling CO2 …show more content…

“In response to the reduction in hydrogen ion and elevation in pH the body responds by trying to elevate the PCO2 to match the increase in HCO3 and thus maintain PCO2/HCO3 ratio too” (University of Connecticut, 2006). With metabolic alkalosis, ventilation decreases to hold on to CO2. Treatment is focused on the cause, and IV 0.9% saline solution for CI-responsive metabolic alkalosis. Underlying conditions are treated, with particular attention paid to correction of hypovolemia and

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