Acid-Base Imbalance: Causes & Respiratory Disorders

The most common cause of acid-base imbalance is respiratory disorders.

* Respiratory acidosis: This occurs when the lungs are unable to remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood. This can happen in conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumonia.

* Respiratory alkalosis: This occurs when the lungs remove too much carbon dioxide from the blood. This can happen in conditions such as hyperventilation and salicylate toxicity.

Other causes of acid-base imbalance include:

* Metabolic acidosis: This occurs when the body produces too much acid or loses too much bicarbonate. This can happen in conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, and renal failure.

* Metabolic alkalosis: This occurs when the body loses too much acid or retains too much bicarbonate. This can happen in conditions such as vomiting, diarrhea, and Addison's disease.