Respiratory acidosis can also result when obstruction of air motion leads to carbon dioxide buildup. Severe asthma and foreign body obstruction are examples. 22 Compensation of respiratory acidosis Whereas respiratory changes can occur within seconds or minutes, metabolic changes take hours to days. Compensation for respiratory acidosis must occur through elimination of acid through the kidney, as discussed above under metabolic acidosis. Only in chronic respiratory problems, such as severe obstructive airway disease, will compensation be seen.
Respiratory alkalosis occurs due to hyperventilation.
In other causes, the hyperventilation may be due to abnormal stimulation of ventilation due to disease. Changes in the lung due to pulmonary embolism, asthma, or pulmonary edema often trigger increased respiratory rate, resulting in respiratory alkalosis. Central stimulation of respiration occurs in aspirin poisoning. This respiratory alkalosis is a separate effect from the metabolic acidosis produced by aspirin. 21.5 Compensation of Respiratory Alkalosis Respiratory alkalosis must exist for hours before metabolic compensation can be seen.