Question

2. Brian recently went to the doctor due to symptoms of headaches, anxiety, vision impairment, and confusion. After performing some diagnostic tests the Doctor received the following results in regards to blood pH, pCO2. The Doctor also found this situation to be chronic rather than acute. Based on the data below, provide the diagnosis (Based on what you have covered in this unit) and create a diagram that shows how the renal system would compensate to bring the body back to normal. In your diagram, make sure to include at least:

Renal tubules, arterioles, bicarbonate buffer, H+ ions

ABGs:

pH - 7.30

pCO2 - 50 mmHg

HCO3- - 28 mEq/L

Answer 1

The symptoms that are experienced by the brian like headaches, anxiety, vision impairment, confusion are caused by metabolic acidosis.  

In this condition, the body has increased amount of acid due to the impairment in acid base balance. In this condition, the ph of the blood is less than 7.35.

This condition is very serious and in long time period, it can cause damage multiple organs.

During metabolic acidosis, the kidneys start reabsorbing more hco3- ions and k+ ions and excrete more H+ ions to reduce the acidosis.