Question

Test I.
a. Reflection Paper about fluid imbalances

Differentiate the respiratory acidosis from respiratory alkalosis

Differentiate the metabolic acidosis from metabolic alkalosis

Answer 1

a- Normally, the respiratory system keeps these two gases in balance. Respiratory alkalosis occurs when you breathe too fast or too deep and carbon dioxide levels drop too low. This causes the pH of the blood to rise and become too alkaline. When the blood becomes too acidic, respiratory acidosisoccurs.

Respiratory acidosis
Reduced CO₂ elimination

• Decreased breathing rate (respiratory drive) due to drugs or central nervous system disorders
• Impaired breathing and lung movement (respiratory mechanics) due, for example, to trauma or abnormal presence of air between the lung and the wall of the chest (pneumothorax)
• Respiratory muscle/nerve disease (myasthenia gravis, botulism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Guillain-Barre syndrome)
• Airway obstruction (food or foreign object)
• Lung disease

Respiratory alkalosis
Increased CO₂ elimination

• Hyperventilation due to anxiety, pain, shock
• Drugs, such as early in a overdose of aspirin (salicylates)
• Pneumonia, pulmonary (lung) congestion (due to heart failure), or embolism
• Exercise
• Fever
• Central nervous system tumor, trauma, infection (meningitis, encephalitis)
• Liver failure

b-Acidosis refers to an excess of acid in the blood that causes the pH to fall below 7.35, and alkalosis refers to an excess of base in the blood that causes the pH to rise above 7.45. Many conditions and diseases can interfere with pH control in the body and cause a person's blood pH to fall outside of healthy limits.

Metabolic acidosis
Decreased HCO₃^-, due to increased acid or loss of bicarbonate

• Alcoholic ketoacidosis
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Kidney failure
• Lactic acidosis
• Toxins – late in an overdose of salicylates (aspirin), methanol, ethylene glycol
• Gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss, such as from prolonged diarrhea
• Renal bicarbonate loss

Metabolic alkalosis
Increased HCO₃^-, due to loss of acid or gain of bicarbonate

• Diuretics
• Prolonged vomiting
• Severe dehydration
• Diseases that cause loss of potassium
• Administration of bicarbonate, ingestion of alkali