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sc131 CrystalElmalahUnit7Assignment

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Crystal Elmalah
Unit 7 Assignment
Anatomy & Physiology II

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 …show more content…

Other causes for metabolic acidosis include: kidney disease, poisoning by aspirin, and severe dehydration. With metabolic acidosis, respiration will increase to blow off CO2, decreasing the amount of acid in the blood. In some cases, sodium bicarbonate may be given to reduce the acidity of the blood. (Medline Plus, 2014). Metabolic alkalosis is a condition in which the body fluids have excess base. The kidneys and lungs maintain the proper balance of chemicals, called acids and bases, in the body. Decreased carbon dioxide or increased bicarbonate level makes the body too alkaline. There are different types of alkalosis such as: respiratory alkalosis, which is caused by a low carbon dioxide level in the blood. This can be due to: fever, lack of oxygen, lung disease, or liver disease; hypochloermic alkalosis is caused by an extreme lack or loss of chloride, from prolonged vomiting; hypokalemic alkalosis is caused by the kidneys’ response to an extreme lack of potassium, this can occur from taking certain water pills. Compensated alkalosis occurs when the body returns to the acid-base balance to normal in cases of alkalosis, but bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels remain abnormal. Symptoms of alkalosis can include: confusion, hand tremor, light-headedness, muscle twitching, vomiting, and numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet. Treatment for alkalosis depends on

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