Respiratory acidosis (patient information): Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This disrupts the body's acid-base balance causing body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic. | [[Respiratory acidosis]] is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the [[carbon dioxide]] the body produces. This disrupts the body's [[acid-base]] balance causing body fluids, especially the blood, to become too [[acidic]]. | ||
==What are the symptoms of Respiratory acidosis?== | ==What are the symptoms of Respiratory acidosis?== | ||
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* [[Lethargy]] | * [[Lethargy]] | ||
* [[Shortness of breath]] | * [[Shortness of breath]] | ||
* Sleepiness | * [[Sleepiness]] | ||
==What causes Respiratory acidosis?== | ==What causes Respiratory acidosis?== | ||
Causes of respiratory acidosis include: | Causes of respiratory acidosis include: | ||
* Diseases of the airways (such as [[asthma]] and [[chronic obstructive lung disease]]), which | * Diseases of the airways (such as [[asthma]] and [[chronic obstructive lung disease]]), which reduce sending air into and out of the [[lungs]] | ||
* Diseases of the chest (such as [[sarcoidosis]]), which make the lungs less efficient at filling and emptying | * Diseases of the chest (such as [[sarcoidosis]]), which make the [[lungs]] less efficient at filling and emptying | ||
* Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflate | * Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflate | ||
* | * Medications that suppress breathing (including powerful pain medicines, such as [[narcotics]], and "downers," such as [[benzodiazepines]]), especially when combined with [[alcohol]] | ||
* Severe [[obesity]], which restricts how much the lungs can expand | * Severe [[obesity]], which restricts how much the lungs can expand | ||
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 helps restore the body's acid-base balance. | [[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 helps restore the body's [[acid-base]] balance. | ||
Acute respiratory acidosis is a severe condition in which carbon dioxide builds up very quickly and before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance. | [[Acute]] [[respiratory acidosis]] is a severe condition in which [[carbon dioxide]] builds up very quickly and before the [[kidneys]] can return the body to a state of balance. | ||
==Who is at highest risk?== | ==Who is at highest risk?== | ||
Patients who are suffering from any condition listed above have the highest risk of developing respiratory acidosis. | Patients who are suffering from any condition listed above have the highest risk of developing [[respiratory acidosis]]. | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
* [[Arterial blood gas]] (measures levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood; in respiratory acidosis, the level of carbon dioxide is too high) | * [[Arterial blood gas]] (measures levels of [[oxygen]] and [[carbon dioxide]] in the blood; in [[respiratory acidosis]], the level of [[carbon dioxide]] is too high) | ||
* Chest x-ray | * [[Chest]] [[x-ray]] | ||
* [[Pulmonary function test]] | * [[Pulmonary function test]] | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ==When to seek urgent medical care?== | ||
Severe respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition. | Severe [[respiratory acidosis]] is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition. | ||
Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of [[lung disease]]. | Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of [[lung disease]]. | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
Treatment is aimed at the underlying lung disease, and may include: | Treatment is aimed at the underlying [[lung disease]], and may include: | ||
* [[Bronchodilator]] drugs to reverse some types of [[airway obstruction]] | * [[Bronchodilator]] drugs to reverse some types of [[airway obstruction]] | ||
* Noninvasive positive | * [[Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation]] (sometimes called CPAP or BiPAP) or [[mechanical ventilation]] if needed | ||
* [[Oxygen]] if the blood oxygen level is low | * [[Oxygen]] if the blood [[oxygen]] level is low | ||
* | * avoid [[smoking]] | ||
==Where to find medical care for Respiratory acidosis?== | ==Where to find medical care for Respiratory acidosis?== | ||
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==Prevention== | ==Prevention== | ||
*Do not smoke. Smoking leads to the development of many severe lung diseases that can cause respiratory acidosis. | *Do not smoke. [[Smoking]] leads to the development of many severe [[lung diseases]] that can cause [[respiratory acidosis]]. | ||
*Losing weight may help prevent respiratory acidosis due to obesity (obesity | *Losing weight may help prevent [[respiratory acidosis]] due to [[obesity]] ([[obesity hypoventilation syndrome]]). | ||
*Be careful about taking | *Be careful about taking [[sedative]] [[medications]], and never combine these medications with [[alcohol]]. | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
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* [[Respiratory failure]] | * [[Respiratory failure]] | ||
* [[Shock]] | * [[Shock]] | ||
* [[neurologic]] complications such as [[seizure]] and [[loss of consciousness]] | |||
* [[cardiovascular]] complications | |||
[[Category:Nephrology]] | [[Category:Nephrology]] | ||
Revision as of 16:57, 18 September 2020
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Respiratory acidosis |
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Respiratory acidosis On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs cannot remove all of the carbon dioxide the body produces. This disrupts the body's acid-base balance causing body fluids, especially the blood, to become too acidic.
What are the symptoms of Respiratory acidosis?
Symptoms may include:
What causes Respiratory acidosis?
Causes of respiratory acidosis include:
- Diseases of the airways (such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease), which reduce sending air into and out of the lungs
- Diseases of the chest (such as sarcoidosis), which make the lungs less efficient at filling and emptying
- Diseases affecting the nerves and muscles that "signal" the lungs to inflate or deflate
- Medications that suppress breathing (including powerful pain medicines, such as narcotics, and "downers," such as benzodiazepines), especially when combined with alcohol
- Severe obesity, which restricts how much the lungs can expand
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 helps restore the body's acid-base balance.
Acute respiratory acidosis is a severe condition in which carbon dioxide builds up very quickly and before the kidneys can return the body to a state of balance.
Who is at highest risk?
Patients who are suffering from any condition listed above have the highest risk of developing respiratory acidosis.
Diagnosis
- Arterial blood gas (measures levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood; in respiratory acidosis, the level of carbon dioxide is too high)
- Chest x-ray
- Pulmonary function test
When to seek urgent medical care?
Severe respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition.
Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of lung disease.
Treatment options
Treatment is aimed at the underlying lung disease, and may include:
- Bronchodilator drugs to reverse some types of airway obstruction
- Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (sometimes called CPAP or BiPAP) or mechanical ventilation if needed
- Oxygen if the blood oxygen level is low
- avoid smoking
Where to find medical care for Respiratory acidosis?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Respiratory acidosis
Prevention
- Do not smoke. Smoking leads to the development of many severe lung diseases that can cause respiratory acidosis.
- Losing weight may help prevent respiratory acidosis due to obesity (obesity hypoventilation syndrome).
- Be careful about taking sedative medications, and never combine these medications with alcohol.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
How well you do depends on the disease causing the respiratory acidosis.
Possible complications
- Poor organ function
- Respiratory failure
- Shock
- neurologic complications such as seizure and loss of consciousness
- cardiovascular complications