Explain how pregnancy can trigger respiratory alkalosis and how the kidneys can compensate.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy that can lead to respiratory alkalosis, and how the kidneys respond to help maintain acid-base balance during this condition. This requires knowledge of human physiology and the body's regulatory mechanisms.
Answer
Pregnancy triggers respiratory alkalosis via progesterone, compensated by kidney bicarbonate excretion.
Pregnancy can trigger respiratory alkalosis due to progesterone stimulating the respiratory center, leading to hyperventilation and decreased arterial CO2 levels. The kidneys compensate by increasing bicarbonate excretion, helping maintain a normal blood pH.
Answer for screen readers
Pregnancy can trigger respiratory alkalosis due to progesterone stimulating the respiratory center, leading to hyperventilation and decreased arterial CO2 levels. The kidneys compensate by increasing bicarbonate excretion, helping maintain a normal blood pH.
More Information
During pregnancy, elevated levels of progesterone increase the sensitivity of the respiratory center to carbon dioxide, often leading to hyperventilation. The body's response to the resulting respiratory alkalosis is to increase bicarbonate excretion through the kidneys, thereby helping stabilize blood pH within the normal range.
Tips
A common mistake is misunderstanding the role of hormones like progesterone in respiratory changes during pregnancy.
Sources
- Acid base during Pregnancy - Anaesthesia MCQ - anaesthesiamcq.com
- 11.1: Acid-Base Aspects of Pregnancy - Medicine LibreTexts - med.libretexts.org
- PMC: Respiratory Alkalosis - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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