I need a response to a classmates response to a discussion post. Please reply to their response and according to the guidlines below. Thanks!
Christine Stefan RE: Discussion Week 9COLLAPSEWhat is respiratory acidosis? How does the body correct these problems?
Professor,
Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs have an inability to expel all the carbon dioxide that the body makes, and there is a disproportion of the rate of carbon dioxide to the rate of pulmonary ventilation that causes, hypercapnia, an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood and causes the blood to become acidic. Meaning the blood pH is below 7.35, also called acidemia.
During “acidosis, the H diffuses down its concentration gradient into the cells, and to maintain electrical balance, K diffuses out. The H is buffered by intracellular proteins, so this exchange results in a net loss of cations from the cell. This makes the resting membrane potential more negative than usual (hyperpolarized) and makes nerve and muscle cells more difficult to stimulate. This also causes blood vessels to vasoconstrict, restricting blood flow and increasing blood pressure. This is why acidosis depresses the central nervous system and causes such symptoms as confusion, disorientation, and coma.” (Saladin, Gan