Respiratory Acidosis

Question: Describe the various treatments that are available for this condition an describe one other condition that would lead to a respiratory acidosis. Answer: The treatments of respiratory acidosis include bronchodilator (airways expansion), antibiotics (treating infections), corticosteroids (reducing inflammation), diuretics (reducing pressure on lungs and heart), mechanical ventilation, treatments to stop smoking- nicotine replacement therapy, Varenicline (Al-Jaghbeer Kellum, 2014). Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that leads to respiratory acidosis. During sleep, the upper airway is blocked. The arterial PO2 decreases while arterial PCo2 increases. Hence, carbon dioxide is retained resulting in respiratory acidosis. The symptoms include snoring, hypersomnolence and breathlessness (Hoth et al., 2013). References: Al-Jaghbeer, M., Kellum, J. A. (2014). Acidbase disturbances in intensive care patients: etiology, pathophysiology and treatment.Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. Hoth, K. F., Zimmerman, M. E., Meschede, K. A., Arnedt, J. T., Aloia, M. S. (2013). Obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep and Breathing,17(2).