Blood buffer

!!Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate Buffer System CO2 + H20 equi h2co3 equi H+ + HCO3-

When acid goes up too much, it shifts the equation to the left, meaning there is more Co2 to be exhaled.

Causes of Acidosis

• Hypoventilation
• Diarrhoea
• Diabetes

Causes of Alkalosis

• Hyperventilation
• Vomiting

Shortcomings

Can’t prevent against changes in pH from elevated or depressed levels of CO2 So if the breathing is screwed, the kidneys can compensate to an extent, but its not the same. Thus, long term problems in respiratory rate or efficiency, like those caused by COPD, can lead to problems in haemostasis.

Combating acidosis

If there are no bicarbonate ions left, its bound to phosphate and excreted in urine. This means that when a bicarb is released by the equation the bicarb has an alkali effect on the system, helping to reverse the effect of the acidosis even more.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Affects type 1 diabetes. When there is a lack of insulin, not only does blood sugar rise, but body fat burning increases. If it drops seriously, the body will start burning fat uncontrollably. When blood sugar levels go very high