Unit 4: Acids & Bases Case Study

Name: _______________________________________

Date: _____________

Discuss a medical condition that is caused by a pH imbalance in the body. Think about the two scenarios
that we talked about in class (acidosis and alkalosis).
What is the medical condition you chose to research?

Arrhythmia: Alkalosis can cause arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat. This may occur
when your body hyperventilates.
Cited Sources, Data & Findings (at LEAST three bullets of information per
source in the box):
(Author, Title of Article, Website for each)
1. www.heart.org/idc/groups/heartpublic/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_300290.pdf
2.

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. It may feel like fluttering

or a brief pause.
When its very brief, an arrhythmia can have almost no symptoms. It
can feel like a skipped heartbeat that you barely notice.
Tachycardia can reduce the hearts ability to pump, causing
shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness or loss of
consciousness. If severe, it can also cause heart attack or death
When arrhythmias are severe or last long enough to affect how well
2. http://www.livestrong.com/article/266840-what-are-the-dangers-of-high-orthe heart works, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to
low-ph-levels/

Alkalosis can cause arrhythmia, or an irregular heartbeat.

This may occur when your body hyperventilates.
The consequent irregularity in breathing can cause the heart to beat at
irregular intervals as well.
You may experience difficulty breathing, chest pain and palpitations.

3. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/alkalosis/overview.ht
ml

An arterial blood gas analysis and basic metabolic panel will confirm alkalosis
and determine if it is respiratory alkalosis or metabolic alkalosis.

To treat alkalosis, your health care provider needs to find the cause.

Some people need medications to correct chemical loss (such as chloride and
potassium). Your health care provider will monitor your vital signs
Summarize the information
you found:
(temperature,
pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure).

Include data/findings from all sources

Complete sentences, paragraph format
Must be at LEAST 8-10 sentences

Arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. Excessive alkaline levels in your body fluids may
develop heart arrhythmias. Arrhythmias occur when your heart beats too fast, too slow or
otherwise irregularly. It may feel like fluttering or a brief pause. It may be so brief that it doesnt
change your overall heart rate (the number of times per minute that your heart beats). Or it can
cause the heart rate to be too slow or too fast. Some arrhythmias dont cause any symptoms.
Others can make you feel lightheaded or dizzy. The symptoms of arrhythmia are, may feel like a
fluttering in the chest or neck, the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to the body
when it is severe, Bradycardia that can cause fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting or
near-fainting spells, or, in extreme cases, cardiac arrest and Tachycardia that can reduce the
hearts ability to pump, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, lightheadedness or loss of
consciousness. This condition may progress into more dangerous conditions, such as a heart
attack, heart failure, stroke or sudden death. To determine the type of alkalosis an arterial blood
gas analysis and basic metabolic panel will confirm alkalosis and determine if it is respiratory
alkalosis or metabolic alkalosis. They may include Urine pH. To treat alkalosis, your health care
provider needs to find the cause. For alkalosis caused by hyperventilation, breathing into a
paper bag allows you to keep more carbon dioxide in your body, which improves the alkalosis. If
your oxygen level is low, you may receive oxygen. Some people need medications to correct
chemical loss (such as chloride and potassium). Your health care provider will monitor your vital
signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure). Most cases of alkalosis respond
well to treatment. To reduce alkalosis you can eat some types of food such as oranges, onions,
lettuce, apples, bananas, etc.