COPD and Respiratory Acidosis: A Dangerous Combination

 Acid-base disorders are common in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Severe metabolic acidosis is associated with different clinical outcomes. Among them, metabolic acidosis can be caused by primary disease or secondary complications in critically ill patients. So, it is essential to have insightful knowledge about this topic.

There are two types of acidosis:

Metabolic

Respiratory

Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the pH of the blood falls more than normal due to increased acid concentration in the body or decreased bicarbonate concentration.

Your body:

Makes too much acid

Doesn’t excrete enough acid

Doesn’t produce enough base to counter the usual amount of acid

When any of these things happen, the chemistry and processes of your body are not functioning as they should. While metabolic acidosis primarily affects the metabolic system, it can also impact lung function. When the blood acidity level is increased, the lungs may try to compensate by increasing the rate and depth of breathing, which can result in hyperventilation. 

Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory acidosis is a state that takes place when your lungs cannot eliminate all the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This can make blood and other bodily fluids too acidic.

In COPD or chronic inflammatory lung disease patients, kidneys are unable to reabsorb bicarbonate to compensate for chronic respiratory acidosis. Over time, mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis sets in, resulting in a dangerously low pH. Acidosis is a serious health problem, so understanding its symptoms, risk factors, treatments, etc., is crucial for maintaining good health and preventing serious complications.

Causes:

Asthma

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Pneumonia

Obesity

Sleep apnea

Contents hide

1 Overview

2 Respiratory acidosis

3 COPD is the main cause of Respiratory acidosis

4 Why is it Necessary to Understand the Risk Factors of Respiratory acidosis

5 What are the different types of respiratory acidosis?

6 What is the Impact of Respiratory acidosis?

6.1 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Causes

6.2 Symptoms

6.3 Treatment

6.4 Management of respiratory acidosis

7 When to consult a doctor?

8 FAQ

Overview

Acid-base disorders are common in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Severe metabolic acidosis is associated with different clinical outcomes. Among them, metabolic acidosis can be caused by primary disease or secondary complications in critically ill patients. So, it is essential to have insightful knowledge about this topic.

There are two types of acidosis:

Metabolic

Respiratory

Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the pH of the blood falls more than normal due to increased acid concentration in the body or decreased bicarbonate concentration.

Your body:

Makes too much acid

Doesn’t excrete enough acid

Doesn’t produce enough base to counter the usual amount of acid

When any of these things happen, the chemistry and processes of your body are not functioning as they should. While metabolic acidosis primarily affects the metabolic system, it can also impact lung function. When the blood acidity level is increased, the lungs may try to compensate by increasing the rate and depth of breathing, which can result in hyperventilation. 

Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory acidosis is a state that takes place when your lungs cannot eliminate all the carbon dioxide produced by your body. This can make blood and other bodily fluids too acidic.

In COPD or chronic inflammatory lung disease patients, kidneys are unable to reabsorb bicarbonate to compensate for chronic respiratory acidosis. Over time, mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis sets in, resulting in a dangerously low pH. Acidosis is a serious health problem, so understanding its symptoms, risk factors, treatments, etc., is crucial for maintaining good health and preventing serious complications.

Causes:

Asthma

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis

Pneumonia

Obesity

Sleep apnea

COPD is the main cause of Respiratory acidosis

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common cause of respiratory acidosis. In COPD, the airways become narrowed, making breathing harder and leading to carbon dioxide accumulation in the bloodstream. This can result in respiratory acidosis, which, if left untreated, can worsen COPD symptoms and increase the risk of complications.

In COPD, the lungs often cannot expel enough carbon dioxide due to reduced lung function and airway obstruction. As a result, carbon dioxide builds up in the bloodstream, causing a decrease in pH and an increase in acidity. This can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, confusion, and a rapid heartbeat.

Why is it Necessary to Understand the Risk Factors of Respiratory acidosis

Understanding the risk factors associated with respiratory acidosis is important for several reasons:

Prevention: Knowing the risk factors associated with respiratory acidosis can help individuals and healthcare providers take steps to prevent the condition from developing.

Early detection: Understanding the risk factors associated with respiratory acidosis can also help healthcare providers recognise the signs and symptoms of the condition early on. Early detection can lead to earlier intervention and better outcomes for the patient.

Treatment: The risk factors associated with respiratory acidosis can also inform treatment decisions.

Some risk factors associated with respiratory acidosis include lung chest wall deformities, obesity, neuromuscular disorders, drug overdose, and mechanical ventilation.

What are the different types of respiratory acidosis?

There are two types of respiratory acidosis:

Acute respiratory acidosis: This type of respiratory acidosis occurs quickly, usually over a period of hours to days, and is often caused by an acute exacerbation of underlying lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), acute asthma, pneumonia, or a drug overdose. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, confusion, drowsiness, and cyanosis.

Chronic respiratory acidosis: This type of respiratory acidosis develops slowly over a period of weeks to months and is usually caused by chronic lung diseases such as COPD, emphysema, or bronchitis. Symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and headaches. In both types of respiratory acidosis, the underlying cause is the same: the lungs cannot remove enough carbon dioxide from the body, leading to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood and a decrease in blood pH.

What is the Impact of Respiratory acidosis?

The impact of respiratory acidosis depends on the severity and duration of the condition and the underlying cause. Here are some of the potential impacts:

Respiratory acidosis can lead to lethargy, confusion, and drowsiness.

It can cause headaches, tremors, and seizures in severe cases.

The respiratory system may become further compromised, sometimes leading to respiratory failure.

Low blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms may also affect the cardiovascular system.

It can also cause a decrease in kidney function and impair the ability to excrete acid and bicarbonate.

Prolonged or severe respiratory acidosis can increase the risk of infections, pneumonia, and other respiratory illnesses.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Causes

Asthma

Pneumonia

Sleep apnea

Chronic bronchitis

Pulmonary fibrosis

Lung cancer

Muscle weakness in the chest wall or diaphragm

Respiratory depression from a drug overdose or anaesthesia

Symptoms

The symptoms of respiratory acidosis can include:

Shortness of breath

Rapid breathing

Confusion or lethargy

Headache

Fatigue

Chest pain or discomfort

Arrhythmias

Treatment

Treatment for acute respiratory acidosis usually involves treating the underlying cause. You need medical treatment as soon as possible because acute respiratory distress is a medical emergency.

Treatment targets the underlying disease and may include:

Bronchodilators and corticosteroids medicines to reverse some types of airway obstruction

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

Oxygen if your level of blood oxygen is low appropriate

Treatment to stop smoking

Individuals with lung disease need to work closely with their healthcare providers to manage their symptoms and maintain proper acid-base balance to prevent further complications.

Management of respiratory acidosis

It focuses on treating the underlying cause and restoring normal breathing patterns to help remove excess carbon dioxide from the body. 

Here are some strategies that may be used to manage respiratory acidosis:

Oxygen therapy

Mechanical ventilation

Bronchodilators

Antibiotics

Treating underlying conditions

Conclusion

Your pH balance is important to your health; you can trust your body to maintain it independently. However, if your doctor finds that you have an imbalance through blood and urine tests, they will perform additional tests to determine the exact cause.

Once the cause is found, you will receive a treatment plan to correct it and return your body’s pH balance to normal.

FAQ

Q. Is respiratory acidosis a complication of COPD?

A. Respiratory acidosis is a common chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complication. COPD is a chronic lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, and it can result in a buildup of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood. 

Q. Why do people with COPD have respiratory acidosis?

A. People with COPD may develop respiratory acidosis due to the following reasons:

Airway obstruction

Reduced lung function

Chronic hypoxia

Q. Is respiratory acidosis dangerous?

A. Acute respiratory acidosis can be fatal. Always seek emergency medical treatment if you feel sudden difficulty in breathing. 

Q. What’s the most dangerous complication of COPD?

A. People with COPD have a higher possibility of developing lung cancer.