Question

If ventilation is impaired, carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream will increase. This condition is called:

acidosis.

hypoxia.

hypoxemia.

hypercarbia.

Answer 1

When ventilation is impaired and carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream increase, it's called respiratory acidosis. This happens when the lungs are unable to effectively remove carbon dioxide from the body, leading to an imbalance in the body's acid-base levels. It can be caused by conditions such as lung diseases, respiratory muscle weakness, or certain medications.

Answer 2

Impaired ventilation leading to increased blood levels of CO2 is known as hypercarbia, which differs from acidosis, hypoxia, or hypoxemia, and is typically caused by respiratory impairments or the use of certain drugs.

Step-by-step explanation:

If ventilation is impaired, causing carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream to increase, this condition is called hypercarbia.

Hypercarbia, or hypercapnia, occurs when there is an abnormally elevated level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the bloodstream, typically due to impaired respiratory functions such as hypoventilation. Conditions like pneumonia, congestive heart failure, or the influence of certain drugs like morphine and barbiturates can lead to hypercarbia. This is different from acidosis, which refers to an overly acidic condition of the blood often resulting from an excess of carbonic acid or CO2.

Hypoxemia refers to low oxygen levels in the blood, while hypoxia is a more generalized term for a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body. In contrast, hyperpnea involves an increased depth and rate of ventilation typically seen in response to increase oxygen demand, and does not significantly alter blood CO2 levels unless it progresses to hyperventilation, which can cause abnormally low CO2 levels and result in respiratory alkalosis.