What is Acid-Base Status and Why is it Important?

 

Photo by Dr. Haus

Acid-Base Status

The acid-base status of a patient allows us to know the pH of the bloodstream and to determine if there are any abnormal changes to bloodstream's homeostasis.

 

The four (4) states of acid-base imbalances

1. Respiratory acidosis (acidic pH (low pH) due to accumulating carbon dioxide in the lungs)
2. Respiratory alkalosis (basic pH (high pH) due to expelling too much carbon dioxide in the lungs)
3. Metabolic acidosis (acidic pH (low pH) due to too much acid in the bloodstream that IS NOT due to the lungs)
4. Metabolic alkalosis (basic pH (low pH) due to too much base in the bloodstream that IS NOT due to the lungs)
   
   

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Why is Acid-Base Status Important?

Knowing the acid-base status of a patient is important to know the patient's overall health and to treat any conditions that are affecting the body's bloodstream pH.  Even slight changes in bloodstream pH can be fatal and these types of changes need to be known as quickly as possible to reverse them.