metabolic acidosis question

2ndyearstudent, CNA · May 2, 2011

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but what causes skin to be warm and flushed from any cause?

Cupcake89121 · May 3, 2011

I'm going to say...metabolic acidosis leads to hyperventilation as a compensatory mechanism. Hyperventilation -- increased HR -- more blood pumping around -- warm and flushed skin.

I'm not sure if this is correct, I'm just a first year student but wanted to try it out!

2ndyearstudent, CNA · May 4, 2011

I'm going to say...metabolic acidosis leads to hyperventilation as a compensatory mechanism. Hyperventilation -- increased HR -- more blood pumping around -- warm and flushed skin.
I'm not sure if this is correct, I'm just a first year student but wanted to try it out!

Hyperventilation is a compensatory mechanism, but it does not lead to warm and flushed skin.

Acidosis causes peripheral vasodilation (the mechanism of which you can look up in journals) which leads to the warm flushed skin.