Acid Base Balance Flashcards
Normal blood pH
Normal CO2 ranges
Normal HCO3 ranges
7.35 to 7.45
35-45 mmHg
22-26 mEq/L
What controls CO2? What controls H and H CO3?
Lungs
Kidneys
What happens when you eat a low CHO diet?
More protein is metabolized so more strong acids are produced.
More ketones made so increased respiration makes acidic blood
What does kidney do when blood is acidic?
Increases H excretion to increase HCO3 production and reabsorption. Makes the blood more basic.
A low HCO3 means….
Metabolic acidosis
A low CO2 means…
Respiratory alkalosis
A high CO2 means…
Respiratory acidosis
A high HCO3 means…
Metabolic alkalosis
3 measures that show acidic blood
pH less than 7.35
pCO2 over 45 mmHg
CO3 less than 22 mEq/L
3 measures that mean basic blood
pH over 7.45
CO2 less than 35 mmHg
CO3 over 26 mEq/L
Causes of metabolic acidosis
Low HCO3 levels, low pH
DKA, diarrhea/kidney excretion (lose HCO3), not excreting enough acids (renal failure), starve, high fat/low CHO diet
Causes of metabolic alkalosis
High pH, high HCO3
Loss of H from NG suction, addition of HCO3 to ECF (lactate/acetate), vomit (lose too much HCl)
Causes of respiratory acidosis
Low pH, high CO2 levels
Acute: retain CO2, hypo ventilation, sleep apnea, ARDS, asthma, opiates, sedatives, anesthesia
Chronic: COPD, bronchitis, MS, over feeding of high CHO feeding, obesity
Causes of respiratory alkalosis
High pH, low CO2
Hyperventilation (excrete too much CO2)
Central: anxiety, pain, CVa, head trauma, hyperventilation
Peripheral: resp infection, pnumonia, high alt hypoxia
Compensation for metabolic acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis to increase pH and decrease CO2 so that the low CO3 is balanced. Do this with hyperventilation to excrete more CO2.
