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Respiratory acidosis
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<p>Respiratory acidosis is a state in which decreased <a href="/facts/Breathing/92Wov2gk">ventilation</a> (<a href="/facts/Hypoventilation/ruqIr4oa">hypoventilation</a>) increases the concentration of <a href="/facts/Carbon_dioxide/xGzpppEp">carbon dioxide</a> in the blood and decreases the blood's <a href="/facts/PH/RnSv8D7y">pH</a> (a condition generally called <a href="/facts/Acidosis/hmfAo1uR">acidosis</a>). </p><p>Carbon dioxide is produced continuously as the body's cells <a href="/facts/Cellular_respiration/kb6gpsvL">respire</a>, and this CO2 will accumulate rapidly if the lungs do not adequately expel it through <a href="/facts/Pulmonary_alveolus/aEHP1ATT">alveolar</a> ventilation. Alveolar hypoventilation thus leads to an increased <a href="/facts/PCO2/3jPc7ToV">pCO2</a> (a condition called <a href="/facts/Hypercapnia/wBArR1mW">hypercapnia</a>). The increase in pCO2 in turn decreases the HCO−3/pCO2 ratio and decreases pH. </p>