4. Now you understand how breathing patterns can affect PCO2 and blood pH. Facto

Question

4. Now you understand how breathing patterns can affect PCO2 and blood pH. Factors other than breathing patterns also can affect blood pH. When pH gets out of line due to a non-respiratory (metabolic) problem the respiratory system is often called upon to try to fix the pH problem by adjusting breathing patterns. Consider the following situations. (4 pts each)

a) A patient comes in having overdosed on aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and is breathing at a rate and depth that differs from normal. Predict the response you would expect from the respiratory system in order to help with this problem and explain your reasoning.

b) A patient has been ill for several days with a severe case of the stomach flu. Due to the excessive vomiting and loss of H+ from his stomach, he now is breathing at a rate and depth that differs from normal. Predict the response you would expect from the respiratory system in order to help with this problem and explain your reasoning.

Explanation / Answer

A) A patient with overdose of aspirin has excessive acid in the body, thus the body tries to maintain homeostasis by compensating for the rise in acid content. This is acquired by quick and shallow breathing that tries to remove as much CO2 as possible. This reduces the acidity of blood so that pH of the blood is maintained.

B) A patient losing H+ ions due to vomiting shall have slow breathing so as to retain as much CO2 as possible so that the pH of the blood is maintained. Increase in partial pressure of CO2 would lead to rise in ph.

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