Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1 MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1 Concept of acid base imbalance..................................................................................................1 Respiratory acidosis....................................................................................................................2 Respiratory alkalosis...................................................................................................................6 CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10 REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11
INTRODUCTION Acid base imbalance refers to a situation of occurring imbalance in acid and base concentration which is responsible for causing plasma pH in order to deviate out of natural range i.e. 7.35 to 7.45. However, the acid base balance can be considered as one of the fundamental homoeostatic needs of overall organisationas the hydrogen ion effects the same.It include the fact thatmodifications in [H+] impacts on the rate constants of various types of enzymes along with cell cycle, cell proliferation and signal transduction (Crook, 2014).However, the fluid of body i.e. blood have to conduct various functions for which it needs proper balance between acidic and basic compounds in respect of functioning in correct way.The balance of acid base concentration is very important in order to maintain homoeostasis with the help of several physiological adaptations. This report will focus on pathophysiology of respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis which is actually responsible for causing respiratory related acid base imbalances. MAIN BODY Concept of acid base imbalance The blood can be described as an essential fluid in human body which is made up of acids and base and their concentration in blood soundly be measured in pH scale. It isimportant for maintaining balance among acid and base inblood because slight changes can create severe health problems. Meanwhile, it has been analysed that blood should have slighter highly amount of bases as compared to acids. However, abnormality in concentration of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide refers to imbalance of acid and base in blood.The acid base imbalance include decreased level of carbon dioxide and increased concentration of bicarbonate. 1
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Respiratory acidosis The respiratory acidosis can be described as a situation that take place while lungs become non-capable for removing desired amount ofcarbon dioxide (CO2)generatedby the human body. However,increasing of concentration in carbon dioxide can cause pH of blood and otheressential fluids of body get decreased which is responsible for making it too acidic accordingly (Brent and et. al., 2017). In general, the human body is capable to maintain overall balance of ions in respect of controlling acidity and balance can be measured on pH scale from 0 to 14. Moreover, acidosis occurs at the time when pH blood falls below 7.35 (normal blood pH is between 7.35 to 7.45). In addition to this, it is determined that the respiratory acidosis is typically caused by an underlying disease or condition which can be known as respiratory failure and ventilatory failure. It has been analysed that lungs take oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide normally where oxygen passes lungs to blood and CO2passes from blood to lungs. Meanwhile, sometimes lungs become unable to remove enough amount of carbon dioxide which caused due to reduced respiratory rate or decrease in air movement due to an several health conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia and sleep apnoea. Respiratory acidosis can be divided into two categories such as acute respiratory acidoses and chronic respiratory acidosis which has their own symptoms and impacts on human body. Initially, an acute respiratory acidosis is a conditions that take place quickly which can be considered as medical emergency (Lewis and et. al., 2014). However, if this condition remain untreated then it may leads progressively worst symptoms and become life threatening for an individual. Moreover, chronic respiratory is a condition that develops over time and does not cause symptoms which is responsible for adaptation of human body in terms of boosting up acidity.For example,kidney produceextra bicarbonateto help formaintainingbalance. 2
Meanwhile,it is necessary that chronic respiratory acidosis cause symptomsbut development of different health problems in body may responsible for causingchronic respiratory acidosis to worsen and become acute respiratory acidosis. Symptoms of respiratory acidosis There are various symptoms of respiratory acidosis at initial level such as headache, anxiety, blurred vision, restlessness and confusion which are required to be treated immediately to make an individual healthy. If in case, the early remain untreated then few of other serious signscanbeobservedincludingshortnessofbreathe,deliriumorconfusion,comaand sleepiness or fatigue.However, the signs andevidencesof chronic respiratory acidosisare not usually observablebut they are subtle and non specific which can consistpersonality changes, memory loss and sleep disturbances.It is necessary to treat early symptoms to maintain acid based balance in human body in order to make an individual healthy. Moreover, ignorance of acid based imbalance in body is responsible for creating many severe health problems (Raphael and et. al., 2016). Causes of respiratory acidosis The regulations of pH in human body can be conducted with the helps of major organs like lungs and kidneys as the lungs helps on removing acid by exhaling carbon dioxide whereas kidneys plays an important role to excrete acids through urine. However, kidneys are responsible for maintaining the concentration of bicarbonate in blood of human body. Moreover, I has been analyse that respiratory acidosis can generally take place due to disease related to lungs which can affect normal breathing or impairs capability of lungs in order to remove carbon dioxide. There are several causes which facilitate occurrence of chronic respiratory acidosis such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COP), acute pulmonary oedema, severe obesity 3
(that is able to interfere the expansion of lungs),scoliosis and neuromuscular disorders (like multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy) (Ignatavicius and Workman, 2015). At the other hand, there are different cause which leads to acute respiratory acidosis such which are required to be observed and get treatment properly to remain well-being. Initially, it consist several disorder related to lungs which create problem of respiratory acidosis which include COPD, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia. Secondly, it involve medical conditions which are responsible to create problem in rate of breathing, hence may leads to abnormal breathing. Thirdly, weakness of muscles that impacts negatively on breathing and taking deep breathe also cause creation of acute respiratory acidosis. However, the obstructed airwaysbecause of different problems like choking, cardiac arrest and sedative overdoseare some of reasons for occurrence of an acute respiratory acidosis. Diagnosis of respiratory acidosis The diagnosis refers to different types of activities and procedures which are helpful to determine actual health problem and their real cause of the same, it include the criteria to make an appropriate decision to conduct proper treatment for specific disease in order to make an individuals healthy. However, it is necessary to conduct appropriate diagnosing activity for analysing actual health issue of an individual so that correct medication can be provided to make a patient disease free in proper manner. In context of determining problem of respiratory acidosis, there are several diagnosing processes that can be carried out in which few of them are described here (Bersten and Handy, 2018). Blood gas measurement– This can be described as a process to analysethe levels of a compound i.e. carbon dioxidein order to evaluate the acidity of blood accordingly. However, the blood gas can be considered as a series tests which isutilised for measuring concentration of CO2 4
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and oxygenin blood. Meanwhile, the pathologist take sample of blood from artery of body of patient and determine levels of carbon dioxide in blood and high concentration indicates the situation of acidosis. Electrolytes– This include the process of testing electrolytes that is group testwhich helpsfor measuring concentration K+(Potassium), Cl-(Chloride), bicarbonate and Na+(Sodium). Meanwhile, concentration ofabove mentioned electrolytes is required for measuringwhich can be increased or decreased and that will facilitate to determine the condition of acid based disorders. Moreover, one of more of these electrolytes can have improve or declined level in people which indicates the problem of respiratory acidosis (Erickson, Goff and Uemura, 2015). Lung function tests– This include to analyse that lungs are conducting their functions normally in proper manner because the problem of respiratory acidosis create problems in functioning of this organs. However, improper functions of lungs also provide indication of problem known as respiratory acidosis. Chest X- ray– This include to help physicians to clearly observed internal injuries of problem that is responsible for creating condition of respiratory acidosis. It include to conduct an X- ray process which consist an electromagnetic wave of high energy and very short wavelength that is capable to pass through many materials opaque to light. However, problem of respiratory acidosis can be identified through examining internal injury by X rays. Other test– There are several other diagnosing tests that can use by doctor in order to diagnose the underlying condition which causes acidosis. However, it may consist metabolic acidosis that may cause similar symptoms which are required to be analyse specifically. Moreover, various tests should be conducted to determine cause of respiratory acidosis because 5
amount of acid can be increased due to several other problem like kidney failure, diabetes and many more including glucose, lactate as well as ketones. Treatment of respiratory acidosis The treatment of respiratory acidosis is based on its specific form such as acute and chronic as their symptoms are quite different. It consist variety of treatments procedure and mediation in which more suitable one can be selected for particular individual with this in order to make them healthy (Park, 2014). However, selection of appropriate treatment is necessary because people have different level of immunity in their body which accept specific medications. Acute respiratory acidosis–For treating the problem of acute acidosis, it is essential to first address the underlying cause of this problem. However, medication or treatment is required to be carrying out according to specific reason for acute acidosis. For example, if cause is improper airways then it is necessary to make the same clear with the help of conducting Artificial ventilation. Chronic respiratory acidosis– This include to conduct treatment procedure in respect of managingfundamental situationsandit consist the target of improving functioningof airway by several strategies which are suitable for particular patient accordingly. However, antibiotics can be givenfor treating an issue of infection, utilise bronchodilators in terms of expanding airways and carrying out process of diuretics in respect of decreasing extra fluids effects lungs & heart accordingly.In addition to this, doctors can provide corticosteroids to patient for decreasing inflammation and mechanical ventilation to people incriticalconditions. Respiratory alkalosis The respiratory alkalosis is condition whichtake placeat the time when concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide are not balanced in blood. It include the situation when levels of 6
alkalineare observe as very high because of increase in level of bicarbonate and reduced concentration of carbon dioxide.Meanwhile, the respiratory alkalosisis likely to be occurring when a person take breathe excessively deep and fast then it will facilitate amount ofcarbon dioxide drop too low. However, this will facilitate to causeincrease in level of pH in blood which is responsible for making it very much alkaline and thatwill create problem of respiratory alkalosis. In addition to this, hyperventilation can be considered as typically underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis which isknown as over breathing as the hyperventilation breathes occur very deeply or rapidly. Moreover, this conditions has most common causes like panic attacks and anxiety but there are other problems also which may cause hyperventilation. Meanwhile, it consist heart attack, pain, drug use, asthma, fever, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infection, pulmonary embolism and pregnancy (Murray and et. al., 2014). Symptoms of respiratory alkalosis The sign of over breathing is responsible for indicating that respiratory alkalosis is likely to develop and low concentration of carbon dioxide in blood have several physical effects on human body. It include various symptoms such asbloating, feeling light headedness, numbness or muscle spasms in hands & feet, dizziness, dry mouth, confusion, discomfort in chest area feeling shortness in breathing and tingling in arms heart palpitations. Causes and types of alkalosis The problem of respiratory alkalosis includereduced amount of carbon dioxidewhich can caused due toseveral kinds of elementssuch ashigh altitude, lung disease, fever, lack of oxygen, liver disease and salicylate poisoning.However, low levels of carbon dioxide facilitate body to release more amount of bicarbonate in order to maintain pH level of blood to normal which can be considered as compensated alkalosis. In addition to this, kidneys are releasing more 7
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amount of bicarbonate in respect of compensating for lower levels of carbon dioxide for making pHlevelnormalinbloodofhumanbody.Moreover,thesituationofoccurringmore concentration of bicarbonate in blood then it is known as metabolic alkalosis which is caused due to prolonged vomiting. The metabolic alkalosis attributed toextravomiting cause electrolyte loss,large loss of sodium or potassium in short period of time, adrenal disease, antacids, overuse of diuretics, laxatives, alcohol abuse and accidental ingestion of bicarbonate.Meanwhile, the condition of prolonged vomiting is also create position of losing much more chloride that can be called as hypochloremic alkalosis. Sometimes, it has been evaluated that intake of diuretics medicines can cause a patient to loose too much potassium hence, this condition is known as hypokalaemic alkalosis. Furthermore, deficiency of potassium may create severe problems as this element is essentialfor correct functioning of muscles, nervous systems, heart, kidney, and digestive systems respectively. Diagnosis of respiratory alkalosis The diagnosis of respiratory alkalosis is very essential in order to determine actual cause of the problem in order to make appropriate decision making for providing correct medication. It include to identify the type of respiratory alkalosis so that correct treatment can be conducted for making an individual healthy (Manuel, Hart and Stradling, 2015). However, it consist physical exam, diagnostic testing including metabolic panel blood gas analysis, urinalysis and urine pH. In addition to this, it is necessary to conduct desired pathological procedures includingbasic metabolic panel, arterial blood gas analysis, urine pH level test and urinalysis.Moreover, overall these activities are helpful to determine concentration of carbon dioxide along with evaluating actual cause of the respiratory alkalosis. It will provide support to prefer correct treatment process in respect of solving the given problem of an individual for their appropriate health. 8
Additionally, abnormality can be compared to normal concentrations in respect of providing correct dose of medicines and other treating process. Furthermore, the normal blood pH levels are between 7.35 to 7.45 as the blood pH above 7.45 indicate the situation of respiratory alkalosis accordingly. Treatment of respiratory alkalosis The process of treatment or medication is depends upon underlying cause of respiratory alkalosis in proper manner. Initially, Panic & anxiety related causes requires treating condition in order to raise concentration of carbon dioxide in blood which can be done by several strategies that are explained further. Breathe into paper bag– This process consist few of steps which are required to be conducted in correct sequence for increase level of CO2.Firstly, it include to fill the paper bag with carbon dioxide by exhaling air into it. Secondly, it is necessary to breathe the exhaled air from the bag back into the lungs and repeat this several times. However, it will provide support to increase levels of carbon dioxide in blood. Moreover, doing this process for several times give sufficient amount of CO2as per requirements that brings levels back up to where it should be. Get reassurance– This include the fact that symptoms of respiratory alkalosiscan be frightening as it often causes faster and deeper breathing that making things worse. However, such conditions can be overcome by having a calm loved one to provide assurance which is helpful to get breathing under control in accurate way. Restrict oxygen intake into the lungs– In order to restrict intake into lungs, try breathing at the time of pursing lips or breathing through single nostril. Meanwhile, while doing the mentioned process, the mouth and other nostril is required to be covered for gaining better outcomes. 9
CONCLUSION As per the above report it has been summarised that it is required factor to balance of acid base concentration which is a crucial aspect in order to maintain homoeostasis with the help of several physiological adaptations. In this regard treatment procedure for managing underlying conditions and the goal is to amend function of airway by several strategies which are appropriate for patient accordingly their need. Moreover, consideration for the respiratory alkalosis is a condition that occurs when denseness of carbon dioxide and oxygen in blood are not balanced. In addition to this, the major consideration of this project is on pathophysiology of respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. At the other hand, is include that treatment of respiratory acidosis and alkalosis is based in actual cause of the same in human body. 10
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