There are two types of acid-base imbalances that can arise in patients with emphysema. The first is chronic respiratory alkalosis, which occurs when the lungs cannot remove enough carbon dioxide from the body and becomes chronically overburdened by hydrogen ions. This causes a buildup of bicarbonate in the blood stream, which will cause an increase in pH levels. The second type is chronic respiratory acidosis, which happens when there is too much CO2 in the blood stream and not enough oxygen to be able to break it down into carbonic acid or bicarbonates. When this happens, more hydrogen ions are produced as a byproduct and combined with water molecules to form hydronium ions (H these counteract to try kidneys The. blood the in potassium much too with combined when sodium of levels low as well as production ion hydrogen more causes also This. bloodstream the through oxygen carrying difficulty hasoglobin hem soatearbonic b of amount excessive an is there,osisal alk respiratory chronic In.CO H or water into back them reduce cannot cells deprived oxygen and metabolism theirfrom* CO producing constantly are they becausemasephy em with patients for harder becomes it, time over continues process this As).neutral ( seven around of level pH normal a keep to order in dioxide carbon and stream blood the fromatesarbonic b with ions hydrogen excess out buffer to trying by compensate will body the,osis acid respiratory chronicIn . pH lowers which+)arbonic b while),+H ( ionsiumron hyd form to molecules water with combined andproduct by a as produced are ions hydrogen more, happens this When.atesarbonic b or acidic carbon into down it break to able be to oxygen enough not and stream blood the in₂ CO much too is there when happens which,osis acid respiratory chronic and; ions hydrogen byenedurdb over chronically becomes and body the from dioxide carbon enough remove cannot lungs the when occurs which,osisal alk respiratory chronic aremasephy em with patients in arise can thatancesbal imbase- acid of types twoThe . blood the in environment acidic more a create to combineatesarbonic b and ionsiumron hyd The).+