Nursing Student confused about acid based balance..?

Question

In metabolic acidosis is the mode of compensation the lungs "blowing off" CO2 to increase pH?

I have really confused myself because I thought metabolic acidosis was caused by to much acid in the blood....is acid and pH to different things?

In my notes from last semester I wrote that the pH is low and the HCO3 is low...was that right...thanks so much!

Answer 1

disturbance:  metabolic acidosis

primary disturbance:  excess endogenous acid depletes bicarbonate or bicarbonate is lost by the kidneys

correction or compensation:  hyperventalation (respritory compensation) lowers PaCO2, kidneys (renal correction) excrete more hydrogen ions and retain more bicarbonate

usual causes:  renal failure, ketosis, asprin poisoning, overproduction of lactic acid

so basically there are 2 ways the body compensates respritory and renal (metabolic)