What is "respiratory acidosis"

n. acidosis resulting from reduced gas exchange in the lungs (as in emphysema or pneumonia); excess carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid which increases the acidity of the blood [syn: carbon dioxide acidosis]

Respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency in which decreased ventilation ( hypoventilation) increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood and decreases the blood's pH (a condition generally called acidosis).

Carbon dioxide is produced continuously as the body's cells respire, and this CO will accumulate rapidly if the lungs do not adequately expel it through alveolar ventilation. Alveolar hypoventilation thus leads to an increased PaCO (a condition called hypercapnia). The increase in PaCO in turn decreases the HCO/PaCO ratio and decreases pH.