Osmosis video - Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which the body produces too much acid (e.g. acetic acid or ketones), or excessively loses bicarbonate ions (e.g. diarrhea or renal failure). In metabolic acidosis, the respiratory center is stimulated in order to compensate for the acidosis and the individual hyperventilates, leading to dyspnea. Other associated symptoms are related to the underlying cause, for example, in diabetic ketoacidosis there's nausea and vomiting.