Respiratory acidosis

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Respiratory system

Ventilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratory

Symptoms may include shortness of breath, easy fatigue, chronic cough, or wheezing.

When respiratory acidosis becomes severe, confusion, irritability, or lethargy may occur.

A chest x-ray or CT scan may be done to diagnose possible lung disease.  

Pulmonary function tests   may help diagnose lung disease.

Arterial blood gases can tell how bad the respiratory acidosis is, and may detect abnormal oxygen levels.

Review Date: 02/14/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.