Acidosis and Akalosis

Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all the carbon dioxide the body produces. This causes body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic. 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 condition in which carbon dioxide builds up quickly, before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance. Some of the symptoms may include: confusion, fatigue, lethargy, shortness of breath, and sleepiness. Some causes of

Assuming that enough time has passed for the renal system to fully compensate for respiratory alkalosis, would you expect PCO2 levels to increase or decrease? Would you expect blood pH levels to increase or decrease? The Pco2 levels would increase as the HCO3- is excreted through the urine and the renal system pumps H+ back into the blood. This would cause the pH levels to decrease to within homeostasis range.

The importance of maintain the correct acid base balance in the body is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Human bodies are very sensitive to pH levels and must be maintained to prevent any health issues. The term pH means potentials oh hydrogen. To function properly our blood pH is regulated at 7.4. The degree of acidity or alkalinity is referred to as the acid base balance. The acidity levels increase when the acidic compounds in the blood increase of the alkaline compounds in the blood fall. Alkalinity increases when the reverse occurs. The levels of alkaline and acidic compounds depend on the body’s intake, production or decreased elimination or vice versa. If the pH rises or falls increasingly the body’s proteins and enzymes can denature and stop functioning. This can cause serious diseases such as cancers or even death. Therefore, our body has essential mechanisms in place to regulate the pH of our blood.

Normally, arterial PaCO2 increases by 0.5-0.7 mm Hg for every 1 mEq/L increase in plasma bicarbonate concentration, a compensatory response that is very quick. If the change in PaCO2 is not within this range, then a mixed acid-base disturbance occurs. For example, if the increase in PaCO2 is more than 0.7 times the increase in bicarbonate, then metabolic alkalosis coexists with primary respiratory acidosis. Likewise, if the increase in PaCO2 is less than the expected change, then a primary respiratory alkalosis is also present.

There are four different types of metabolic acidosis: ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, renal tubular acidosis, and hyperchloremic acidosis. Ketoacidosis occurs when one has diabetes and does not get enough insulin and gets dehydrated, the body burns fat instead of carbs as fuel, and that produces ketones. Lots of ketones in the blood will turn the blood acidic; people who drink a lot of alcohol for a long period of time and does not eat enough also build up ketones. It can also occur when one does not eat at all. Lactic acidosis occurs when there is too much lactic acid within the body. Lactic acid is produced when the cells within the body do not have a lot of oxygen to

Homeostasis of the pH levels in the body is very important to the overall survival rate of human. Secondary to the brain and heart, the arterial blood pH is one of the most critical levels that must be maintained in order to avoid serious complications including death. Four conditions that can be associated with an abnormal arterial blood pH level are respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and metabolic alkalosis. The body has natural compensatory mechanisms in place to regulate the arterial blood pH balance, however if they fail to regulate the pH level there are other treatment options available. Many factors can affect the acid-base balance such as gender, body size, environmental temperatures, lifestyle choices, and age. The elderly is at a higher risk of acid-base imbalances, especially the arterial blood pH levels. The normal pH level for arterial blood is between 7.35-7.45, which is slightly alkaline. If a pH of 7 is considered neutral, then if the pH level is greater than 7, it is more alkaline, and if it is less than 7, it is more acidic. Since the pH range for arterial blood has such as small window, it is very important for the other organs and fluids to fluctuate in their range in order to maintain homeostasis. Arterial blood pH must remain within the range of 7.35 and 7.45 to ensure that there is an adequate amount of oxygen in the blood and within the cells ("pH balance," n.d.). If the level drops under 7.35, this indicates acidosis

Two animal adaptations that help humans maintain a consistent pH are the lungs, and the kidneys. Also, buffer systems help to maintain pH levels in most animals. The blood carries carbon dioxide to the lungs and the greater amount of carbon dioxide their is the lower the pH. Lewis writes, “The amount of carbon dioxide exhaled, and consequently the pH of the blood, increases as breathing becomes faster and deeper.” (Lewis 2015). Therefore, the brain can control the blood pH by controlling the speed and depth of breathing. The kidneys eject acids and bases from them helping to slowly compensate for the irregular blood pH. Lastly, buffers, like the carbonic acid bicarbonate buffer, help to regulate the pH of the blood. They adjust the proportion of acid and base by accepting H+ ions when in excess and donating them when depleted. The carbonic acid bicarbonate buffer in the blood contains both a weak acid and base helping to maintain a constant pH of around 7.4. All in all, a regular blood pH is essential for many important processes to

Acid–base imbalances that overcome the buffer system can be compensated in the short term by changing the rate of ventilation. This alters the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, shifting the above reaction according to Le Chatelier's principle, which in turn alters the pH. For instance, if the blood pH drops too low (acidemia), the body will compensate by increasing breathing thereby expelling CO2, and shifting the above reaction to the left such that fewer hydrogen ions are free; thus the pH will rise back to normal. For alkalemia, the opposite occurs.

The normal pH of a person’s body is 7.0. Once a person’s physiological blood pH change to 7.25, this can result in many different things. Once could be exercising. When we exercise, our heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output will all increase. The blood flow to the heart will increase also. When we exercise, this increases our body’s metabolism and we start to produce CO2. When we start to breathe faster, and we start to supply more oxygen required than our body may needs. As we develop a long-term habit of exercise, our cardiac output and lung capacity increase, even when we are at rest, so that we can exercise longer and harder than before. Over time, the amount of muscle in the body increases, and fat is burned as its energy is needed

This leads to a decline in PCO2 and increases pH. The Main cause for Respiratory alkalosis is hyperventilation which is over breathing. Panic attacks (anxiety), heart attack, drug use, asthma, fever, COPD and pulmonary embolism can cause respiratory alkalosis. Again, the lungs here are important in keeping the blood pH balanced by releasing the perfect amount of carbon dioxide. Treatment is dependent on the cause of respiratory alkalosis. For instance, if it was for anxiety you would exhale into a paper bag carbon dioxide and breathe that into the lungs. Doing this can restore the carbon dioxide back into the body. The body’s pH depends on the kidneys and lungs so in elderly it is much harder to maintain this balance due to the decline in the kidneys and the lungs ability to

Carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffer system; here CO2 (carbon dioxide) binds with H2O (water) to form H2CO3 (carbonic acid). Carbonic acid breaks down to form hydrogen ion (H+) and bicarbonate (HCO3-). Breathing rapidly removes excess of CO2 from the system and this will rise the blood pH. Breathing impaired will retain excess CO2 in the blood which will reduce the pH.

The human body with has trillions of cells and hundreds of portions each playing an important role to keep each individual alive and healthy. However the body doesn’t always work the way that it’s supposed to. Even a small area can have major impact on the rest of the body. This is especially true for a condition that only affects a small portion of people but if not detected it can disrupt virtually every system in the body. This condition is renal tubular acidosis.

leads to acidemia, blood pH is low (less than 7.35) due to increased production of hydrogen ions

While the lungs cannot remove the overwhelming amount of carbon dioxide in the body during respiratory acidosis this causes most bodily fluids including the pH of the blood to decrease, making them acidic. The body is usually able to level the ions that control acidity. The level can be counted on a scale of 14. Acidosis happens when the blood streams pH levels fall below 7.35, the normal level is between 7.35 and 7.45. Respiratory acidosis, also known as respiratory failure or ventilatory failure, is started by an underlying condition or disease.

In the PCO2 in the respiratory acidosis is when the blood has too much acidic. Also the abnormal for when the PCO2 the blood is 45 mmHg. Also, the carbon dioxide is low in the blood Respiratory acidosis is where the lungs cannot remove carbon dioxide the body make. In respiratory alkalemic is a low-level cardon dioxide that in the blood. ( Medlineplus, 2014) The PaCO2 in the respriatory alkalemic is where the level is low. Also, it increase the PH level in the respriatory alkalemic. Also, PH, pCO2, HCO3 can use venous blood gas sample instead of arterial blood gas samples. (Medlineplus,