The Lungs and Renal Failure: Diffusing Capacity and Pulmonary Gas Exchange

The Lungs and Renal Failure: Diffusing Capacity and Pulmonary Gas Exchange
Regin Hilgart
Professor Oldmixon
Cardiopulmonary Disease
March 10, 2015
Abstract
The body of a human being functions as one system. There is usually an inter-link between the various organs of the body. As result, when one organ experiences a breakdown or trauma, the functioning of body systems can be affected. The lungs and the kidneys work in tandem to ensure proper functioning of the body. When one of these critical organs malfunctions, the other organ is directly affected. Renal failure, commonly known as the failure of the kidney, is a complication of the kidney. It is occurs when the ability of the kidney to make appropriate filtration of waste from the blood is impaired. In this paper, the interaction between the respiratory and the renal system will be explored in great depths. With this in focus, it will be possible to establish the role played by the lungs in case of a renal failure.
Normal Body Function
Normally, the kidneys and the lungs work together to ensure that the acidity and alkalinity body are maintained at balanced levels. The body produces both acidity and alkalinity through various means including some foods ingested. Sometimes, the acidity in the body could be higher than the alkalinity and the opposite is true. This is where the renal and pulmonary systems work together to ensure that there is balance within the body (Teixeira et al., 2014).
“Medical researches that have been conducted in recent years are indicative that most patients who have complications arising from the kidney often develop respiratory problems” (Pencheva et al, 2011). Researchers have also reported that patients who are in the intensive care unit suffer from severe failure of the kidneys. When a patient is suffering from a severe case of kidney failure, it means that they are experiencing an overload of fluid in the body. According to Teixeira et al. (2014), this is because at this point, the kidney cannot perform its functions as necessary to rid the body of excess fluid. In addition, the pressure in the oncotic fluid is slowed down posing a huge risk in the general function of the entire body. Due to the overload of fluid in the body, some ofthe body capillaries end up leaking (Turcios, 2010). The capillaries that are responsible for gaseous exchange from the lungs to other body parts become distressed when they fill with fluid. “The effect is that gaseous exchangeis impaired leading to respiratory problems for the patient” (Pencheva et al, 2011). Due to the difficulty in breathing, a patient tends to hyperventilate as he/she attempts to make up for the improper flow of air from the lungs. When this happens, the patient is at huge risk of developing respiratory failure.
Whenever a patient suffers from renal failure, the pulmonary system will compensate to help the body maintain homeostasis; that is, the body’s attempts to reinstate the ability of the kidney to carry out its functions. Pencheva et al. (2011) pointed out that “the high demand of gaseous exchange during renal failure isbest explained as result of the highly deciding environment in the body. At this point, the patient is said to be suffering from a malfunction known as pulmonary edema.” The pressure of air from the lungs is supposed to be higher than ordinary when a patient is suffering from pulmonary edema. The high pressure is solely to help the body maintain the same level of ventilation considering that the fluid overload hasaffected normal ventilation in the body (Liu, 2011).
PH levels in the body
The functioning of the human body is such that there are both high levels of acidity and alkalinity that can be produced. It is necessary that both levels of acidity and alkalinity are regulated to ensure that body organs do not experience failure. It is the kidneys and the lungs that are responsible for the maintenance of the pH levels. The normal pH range is between 7.35 and 7.45. It is necessary that equilibrium be sustained in the body between the levels of acidity and alkalinity (Teixeira et al., 2014). Whenever there is a huge deviation from the required equilibrium, there is direct effect on the proteins in the body. The effect is such that proteins change significantly and this has direct effect so that the efficiency therein is affected.Just to put the respiratory system and the renal system into perspective, the respiratory system controls breathing and hence gaseous exchange in the body. “The rate at which gaseous exchange takes place in the human body has ripple effect on the functioning of other body organs” (Pencheva et al, 2011). When bradypnea occurs, it means that gas exchange is equally slower. As result, more of the carbon dioxide that should have been exhaled is retained in the body and there is less oxygen coming into the body. The vice-versa is true so that tachynea willmean less carbon dioxide in the body and more oxygen. The interpretation of this information is that it is possible for one to make alterations to their pH levels in the body just by changing their rate of breathing. Bradypnea will see a drop in the pH levels; while tachypnea will lead to more oxygenated blood (Liu, 2011).
This then brings in the relationship between the renal system and the respiratory system. The renal system has the sole duty of filtration and cleaning of the blood. This means it also determines the level of bicarbonate that gets filtered out of the blood and into the urine thereby influencing and affecting the levels of urine (Pencheva et al, 2011). Whenever there is reduction of PH levels the acidity in the body increases and this acidity is transferred to the urine. The resulting effect is that there will be increased levels of bicarbonate in the composition of the blood. On the other hand, an increase in the PH levels in the body will mean that the bicarbonate will be removed from the blood and ploughed back to the urine (Teixeira et al., 2014).
Renal Failure and Adverse Effects on the Lungs
The role of the kidneys is very central to the functioning of the rest of the body. As such, when the kidneys fail, the effect is that other organs and their ability to function is affected as well. Turcios (2010) stated that when there is a failure of the kidney, there is less urine that is produced in the blood as lost of the fluid in the body is retained. This is because there is very little filtration of the blood that takes places hence the overload. When there is too much unwanted fluid in the body, some areas begin to swell to accommodate the excess liquid. Hands and legs are usually the most affected by the welling (Pencheva et al, 2011). As the fluid levels in the body increase, the entire cardiovascular mechanism is affected and this often leads to instability in the pressure of the blood. Depending on the nature of the case, a patient could easily suffer from failure of the heart due to the inability of the heart to deal with the excessive fluid. If at this point the fluid is not contained, it ex...