Respiratoric Acidosis, Dangerous Disease Due to Lung Cannot Release Carbon Dioxide

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When the pH of the body is acidic, the body will show certain symptoms that usually do not make it comfortable. There are several factors that can cause the body's acidity to increase, one of which is due to the work of the disrupted lungs causing respiratory acidosis. So, what is respiratory acidosis?

What is respiratory acidosis (respiratory acidosis)?

Respiratory acidosis is a condition of the lungs that cannot remove all carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by the body due to certain medical conditions. Even though normally, the lungs work by inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

This condition makes carbon dioxide levels soar, causing the pH of the blood and other body fluids to decrease to become too acidic. Quoted from Healthline, acidosis occurs when the blood pH drops below 7.35, which is at the normal limit which should be in the range of 7.35 to 7.45.

Type of respiratory acidosis

Based on the type, respiratory acidosis is divided into two, namely:

I

Occurs suddenly in the respiratory system and triggers acidosis. This includes emergency conditions and must be dealt with in order not to worsen.

Chronic

This condition usually develops slowly over time and causes no symptoms. It is precisely the body that adapts to the increasing level of acidity. For example, the kidneys produce more bicarbonate to help maintain the body's pH level.

This condition can also worsen so that it develops into acute respiratory acidosis if it is triggered by certain health problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

What are the symptoms of respiratory acidosis?

Symptoms of acute respiratory acidosis:

  • Headache
  • Restless
  • Blurred vision
  • Confusion

If left idle without any treatment, symptoms usually develop into:

  • Excessive drowsiness and fatigue
  • Sluggish
  • Confused or dazed
  • Hard to breathe
  • Coma

The symptoms of chronic respiratory acidosis are usually not very visible when compared with acute conditions. Some symptoms that might be felt include:

  • Headache
  • Having a sleep disorder
  • Having anxiety disorders and personality changes

Various causes of respiratory acidosis that make the body pH acidic

Some common causes of acute respiratory acidosis, namely:

  • Lung disorders (COPD, emphysema, asthma, pneumonia).
  • Conditions that affect the rate of breathing.
  • Muscle weakness that affects breathing especially when taking deep breaths.
  • Clogged airways (choking).
  • Overdose sedative.
  • Heart failure.

Some common causes of chronic respiratory acidosis, namely:

  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Acute pulmonary edema (swelling)
  • Obesity
  • Neuromuscular disorders such as multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy
  • Scoliosis

Treatment for respiratory acidosis

Treatment for this condition is adjusted based on the type, namely:

Acute type

Treating acidic body pH due to acute respiratory acidosis can be done by overcoming the underlying cause. Consulting a doctor is the best way to get the right diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic type

As with the acute form, the treatment carried out for this type of chronic condition is focused on the cause of it. The aim is to improve airway function. Some of these methods include:

  • Giving antibiotics to treat infections.
  • Provision of diuretic drugs to reduce excess fluid that affects the heart and lungs.
  • Bronchodilators to dilate the bronchi and bronchioles respiratory tract.
  • Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation.
  • Making artificial ventilation (ventilation), usually done for cases that are quite severe.

Always consult a doctor to get an accurate explanation of your condition. This is so that you immediately get the right treatment in accordance with the results of a doctor's diagnosis that can be a determinant of the success of treatment.

How to prevent respiratory acidosis?

Respiratory acidosis can be avoided by maintaining healthy respiratory function. If you have a history of asthma and other pulmonary diseases try to manage it properly through treatment and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, habits that can damage the respiratory system such as smoking need to be avoided. Maintaining an ideal body weight is also needed so that the respiratory system is not disturbed so that it can result in other worse conditions including respiratory acidosis.

Try to make a healthy diet and routinely carry out physical activities that are beneficial for the health of the body including the lungs.

Respiratoric Acidosis, Dangerous Disease Due to Lung Cannot Release Carbon Dioxide
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