What Are the Causes of Respiratory Acidosis?
Respiratory acidosis is the result of too much carbon dioxide in the body. For several reasons, the lungs are unable to release the rising systemic carbon dioxide. When this happens, the body’s acid-base balance becomes unstable, causing body fluids, particularly blood, to become too acidic. Acute respiratory acidosis is the rapid buildup of carbon dioxide before the kidneys can compensate. Chronic respiratory acidosis occurs over a longer period, allowing the kidneys to compensate by increasing the body’s level of bicarbonate. Acid-base balance is dependent upon the ratio between acid or carbon dioxide, and base or bicarbonate in the body. When one is out of balance, the other will try to compensate.
