The nurse cares for a client with an acid-base imbalance. Which electrolyte imbalance will most likely cause respiratory acidosis?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hyponatremia
D) Hypernatremia
A) Hypokalemia
Explanation: A) Severe hypokalemia causes respiratory acidosis because low potassium in the extracellular fluid causes some potassium to move out of cells, leaving the charge inside the cell more negative and farther from its threshold potential. As a result, muscles involved in breathing such as the diaphragm will have decreased contractility, leading to hypoventilation. Hyperkalemia (increased potassium), hyponatremia (decreased sodium), and hypernatremia (increased sodium) do not directly cause respiratory acidosis.
B) Severe hypokalemia causes respiratory acidosis because low potassium in the extracellular fluid causes some potassium to move out of cells, leaving the charge inside the cell more negative and farther from its threshold potential. As a result, muscles involved in breathing such as the diaphragm will have decreased contractility, leading to hypoventilation. Hyperkalemia (increased potassium), hyponatremia (decreased sodium), and hypernatremia (increased sodium) do not directly cause respiratory acidosis.
C) Severe hypokalemia causes respiratory acidosis because low potassium in the extracellular fluid causes some potassium to move out of cells, leaving the charge inside the cell more negative and farther from its threshold potential. As a result, muscles involved in breathing such as the diaphragm will have decreased contractility, leading to hypoventilation. Hyperkalemia (increased potassium), hyponatremia (decreased sodium), and hypernatremia (increased sodium) do not directly cause respiratory acidosis.
D) Severe hypokalemia causes respiratory acidosis because low potassium in the extracellular fluid causes some potassium to move out of cells, leaving the charge inside the cell more negative and farther from its threshold potential. As a result, muscles involved in breathing such as the diaphragm will have decreased contractility, leading to hypoventilation. Hyperkalemia (increased potassium), hyponatremia (decreased sodium), and hypernatremia (increased sodium) do not directly cause respiratory acidosis.
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