Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory acidosis happens when the lungs can’t remove enough of the carbon dioxide produced by the body. Excess CO2 causes the pH of blood and other bodily fluids to decrease, making them too acidic. The body is able to balance the ions that control acidity. This balance is measured on a pH scale from 0 to 14. Acidosis occurs when the pH of the blood falls below 7.35. The normal blood pH level is between 7.35 and 7.45. Respiratory acidosis is typically caused by an underlying disease. The lungs take in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Oxygen passes from the lungs into the blood and carbon dioxide passes from the blood into the lungs. Although, sometimes the lungs can’t remove enough CO2. This may be due to a decrease
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Alveolar hyperventilation causes a decreased partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2). The decrease in PaCO2 increases the ratio of bicarbonate concentration to PaCO2 which increases the pH level. The decrease in PaCO2 develops when a strong respiratory stimulus causes the respiratory system to remove more carbon dioxide than is produced. Respiratory alkalosis can be acute or chronic. Acute respiratory alkalosis is when the PaCO2 level is below the lower limit of normal and the serum pH is alkalemic. Chronic respiratory alkalosis is when the PaCO2 level is below the lower limit of normal, but the pH level is relatively normal or near normal. Respiratory alkalosis is the most common acid-base abnormality observed in patients who are critically ill. It is associated with numerous illnesses and is a common finding in patients on mechanical ventilation. Many cardiac and pulmonary disorders can occur with respiratory alkalosis. When respiratory alkalosis is present, the cause may be a minor or non–life-threatening disorder. However, more serious disease processes should also be considered in the differential diagnosis (Byrd, 2017). Hyperventilation is most likely the underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis. Hyperventilation is also known as over breathing (O’Connell, 2017).
Compensatory mechanisms for respiratory alkalosis happens if respiratory alkalosis lasts
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This can be attributed to excess vomiting, overuse of diuretics, adrenal disease, a large loss of potassium or sodium in a short amount of time, antacids, accidental ingestion of bicarbonate, laxatives, and alcohol abuse (Khan, Cherney, 2017).
For compensatory mechanisms to work we would need to hypo ventilate in order to retain CO2, but stimulation of brain chemoreceptors with an elevated PaCO2 blunts the hypoventilation required to fully correct the pH. As a result, the respiratory system can only help retain CO2 to no greater than 50-55 mm Hg to compensate for the metabolic alkalosis (UCR, 2017).
Carbon dioxide levels need to return to normal if you have respiratory alkalosis. If you have rapid breathing caused by anxiety, taking slow, deep breaths can often improve symptoms and regulate your oxygen level. If tests reveal that you have a low oxygen level, you’ll need to receive oxygen through a mask. If your rapid breathing is caused by pain, then treating the pain will help bring your respiratory rate back to normal and improve your symptoms. If your alkalosis is caused by a loss of chemicals such as chloride or potassium, you’ll be prescribed medications or supplements to replace these chemicals. In some cases of alkalosis, the result is an electrolyte imbalance, which may be corrected by drinking plenty of fluids or drinks that contain electrolytes. If you have an advanced case of
Additionally, some of the general diagnostic and pulmonary function tests are distinct in emphysema in comparison to chronic bronchitis. In the case of R.S. the arterial blood gas (ABG) values are the following: pH=7.32, PaCO2= 60mm Hg, PaO2= 50 mm Hg, HCO3- = 80mEq/L. R.S.’s laboratory findings are indicative of chronic bronchitis, where the pH and PaO2 are decreased, whereas PaCO2 and HCO3- are increased, when compare to normal indices. Based on the arterial blood gas evaluation, the physician can deduce that the increased carbon dioxide is due to the airway obstruction displayed by the hypoventilation. Furthermore the excessive mucus production in chronic bronchitis hinders proper oxygenation leading to the hypoxia. On the other hand, in emphysema the arterial blood gas values would include a low to normal PaCO2 and only a slight decrease in PaO2 which tend to occur in the later disease stages.
Biology 2A03 Lab 4 Respiratory Gas Exchange in a Mouse Lab Manual. Winter Term 2014 (2014). Biology Department. McMaster University.
Mrs. Jones, An elderly woman, presented severely short of breath. She required two rest periods in order to ambulate across the room, but refused the use of a wheel chair. She was alert and oriented, but was unable to speak in full sentences. Her skin was pale and dry. Her vital signs were as follows: Temperature 97.3°F, pulse 83, respirations 27, blood pressure 142/86, O2 saturation was 84% on room air. Auscultation of the lungs revealed crackles in the lower lobes and expiratory wheezing. Use of accessory muscles was present. She was put on 2 liters of oxygen via nasal canal. With the oxygen, her O2 saturation increased to 90%. With exertion her O2 saturation dropped to the 80's. Mrs. Jones began coughing and she produced large amounts of milky sputum.
Fluid volume overload within the intervascular space can cause shortness of breath, fluid within the lungs, engorged neck veins, increased blood pressure and heart rate with a bounding pulse. As blood volume increases so will blood pressure and heart rate. Impaired gas exchange related to pulmonary congestion causes crackles within the lung fields. If oxygen saturation is low the nurse should supply supplemental oxygen. The nurse would raise head of the bed at least thirty degrees or higher to promote breathing and reduce cardiac pressure. Having the patient cough and breath deep can pop open alveoli to clear lung passages. Once the patient is comfortable and in safe position the nurse can call the doctor. The nurse should anticipate another dose of diuretics, such as furosemide. This treatment will decrease respiratory rate and blood pressure by reducing the amount of sodium and fluid within the body. Breath sounds will improve as crackles decrease. Maintaining appropriate fluid volume stabilizes blood pressure, cellular metabolism and proper nutrition gained or wastes lost. Supplemental oxygen if oxygen saturation is low and the nurse has already supplied the patient with oxygen. (Ignatavicius & Workman,
who has lost a lot of his or her oxygen cc exchanging ability, due to the
One of the common diseases in the respiratory system that many people around the world face is emphysema or also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a chronic lung condition where the alveoli or air sacs may be damaged or enlarged resulting in short of breath (Mayo Clinic, 2011). If emphysema is left untreated, it will worsen causing the sphere shaped air sacs to come together making holes and reduce the surface area of the lungs and the amount of oxygen that travels through the bloodstream, blocking the airways of the lungs (Karriem- Norwood, 2012). The most common ways a patient can get emphysema are by cigarette smoking or being exposed to chemicals, dust or air pollutants for a long period of time. Common physical exams reveal a temperature of 100.8 Fahrenheit, 104 beats per minute, a blood pressure of 146/92, and a respiratory rate of 36 breaths per min (Karriem- Norwood, 2012). (see appendix A.1,A.2, A.3, A.4 for complete proof.)
Here, deep in the lungs, oxygen diffuses through the alveoli walls and into the blood in the capillaries and gaseous waste products in the blood—mainly carbon dioxide—diffuse through the capillary walls and into the alveoli. But if something prevents the oxygen from reaching t...
The respiratory system has six major areas that works together that allows the body to breathe, prevent choking, and not to allow harmful debris to enter the respiratory system are some of the functions that the respiratory system does. The respiratory system is divided into two regions, the upper and lower respiratory. The upper respiratory consists of the Nose (nasal) and Pharynx while the lower respiratory embodies the rest of the system which includes the Larynx, Trachea, Bronchioles and Lungs. The information provided will be done by three individuals the upper respiratory tract will be provided by Mr. David Brown, the lower respiratory tract will be given by Ms. Brianna Agee and the infectious diseases will be provided by Mr. Derrek Woods.
...o those patients with chest pain, in order to maintain oxygen saturations as close to 100%, unknowingly realizing that the patient is being exposed to significant periods of hyperoxia (Moradkham & Sinoway, 2010 ). It has been suggested that this is due to poor monitoring skills by health professionals. (Moradkham & Sinoway, 2010 ). From reading this essay it is clear that there is a high demand and need of further clinical research into the effectiveness of oxygen in the client with chest pain. More research also has to be conducted in order for the health professionals to fully understand what oxygen does to the body. Through completing and implementing more updated and reviewed evidence and research on the effect of oxygen on the client with chest pain, a better practice can be put in place to ensure the patient is receiving the best care to save their life.
Chronic bronchitis is a disorder that causes inflammation to the airway, mainly the bronchial tubules. It produces a chronic cough that lasts three consecutive months for more than two successive years (Vijayan,2013). Chronic Bronchitis is a member of the COPD family and is prominently seen in cigarette smokers. Other factors such as air pollutants, Asbestos, and working in coal mines contributes to inflammation. Once the irritant comes in contact with the mucosa of the bronchi it alters the composition causing hyperplasia of the glands and producing excessive sputum (Viayan,2013). Goblet cells also enlarge to contribute to the excessive secretion of sputum. This effects the cilia that carry out the mechanism of trapping foreign bodies to allow it to be expelled in the sputum, which are now damaged by the irritant making it impossible for the person to clear their airway. Since the mechanism of airway clearance is ineffective, the secretion builds up a thickened wall of the bronchioles causing constriction and increasing the work of breathing. The excessive build up of mucous could set up pneumonia. The alveoli are also damaged enabling the macrophages to eliminate bacteria putting the patient at risk for acquiring an infection.
Another cause of dehydration can occur if you experience a period of vomiting or diarrhea (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000982.htm). Since you loose so many liquids when you are vomiting, your stomach doesn’t feel like eating or drinking
For the body to properly oxygenate, breathing rate has to increase but not to the levels necessarily that you find at sea level so the body has to adjust to having less oxygen. A number of changes take place in the body that help it to adjust to decreased oxygen: depth of respiration increases, pressure in pulmonary arteries is increased, pushing blood into portions of the lung not normally used and the body will produce more red cells to carry oxygen. In addition, there is a particular enzyme that gets produced which facilitates the release of oxygen from hemoglobin to the body tissues. (Curtis, 2013).
Oxygen saturation is a term referring to the concentration of oxygen in the blood. Hypoxemia describes a lower than normal level of oxygen in the blood. In order to function properly, the body needs to be above a certain level of oxygen circulating in the blood to perfuse the cells and tissues. When the oxygen level falls below this threshold, hypoxemia occurs. This may cause certain signs and symptoms to occur. Having short term low oxygen saturation can cause shortness of breath, which is generally one of the first symptoms. Anxiety, restlessness, fatigue and headaches are also common symptoms of short term hypoxemia. In an effort to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood, the respiration rate may increase to more than 24 breaths per minute. Heart rate is also frequently elevated to above 100 beats per minute to help circulate oxygen to meet tissue demands. Low oxygen saturation can also cause level of orientation problems such as confusion and short term memory loss. If hypoxemia becomes severe, brain function may become impaired, creating symptoms such as decreased attention span. Breathing may become irregular, with cycles of deep and shallow breathing. Endurance for physical activity decreases, and motor function, particularly for fine movements, can also become impaired. Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, becomes visible. As hypoxemia worsens, bradycardia and hypotension may occur. Ultimately, coma and death can result from severe, untreated hypoxemia. For long term low oxygen saturation conditions, which can last for several days or even longer, signs and symptoms will vary depending on the severity and duration. Fatigue, lethargy and irritability are common symptoms, as is impaired judg...
These symptoms include dizziness, loss of consciousness, chest pain and chest tightness, headaches, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness (“Carbon Monoxide Poisoning”). Additionally, it has been shown that carbon monoxide poisoning may actually occur sooner in people who are more susceptible such as the elderly, young children, people who have a history of lung or heart disease, and individuals who are at high altitudes. Moreover, for individuals who already have CO blood levels that appear to be elevated, such as smokers, carbon monoxide poisoning may occur at a faster rate than for those who do not already have these high levels. If caught in time, there’s a chance that CO poisoning can be reversed.
In similarity, Tim Meredith and Allister Vale (1988: 77) justify that “Carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, reducing the total capacity of the blood to carry oxygen and shifting the oxygen dissociation curve to the left.” Carboxyhemoglobin is a mixture of hemoglobin and CO that is later formed inside red blood cells. Hypoxia is formed within the blood cells causing it to deprive oxygen coming through the lungs. It reduces the amount of blood transportation for oxygen to flow normally. The oxygen dissociation curve is where blood receives and transfers oxygen. Once the curve is shifted, it distorts the transportation of both blood and oxygen flow. Furthermore, from Environmental Pollution (2008: 362) indicate, “It ranges from minor upper respiratory irritation to chronic respiratory and heart disease, lung cancer, acute respiratory infections in children and chronic bronchitis in adults...or asthmatic attacks.” This causes individuals to have difficulty in breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, or death. Minor symptoms are the beginning signs to these serious health problems. Loss of consciousness leads to patients staying in a coma. CO poisoning in the lungs is life threatening and causes many health problems for the body to function