A 54-year-old male with a long history of smoking complains of excessive tiredness, shortness of breath, and overall ill feelings. Lab results reveal decreased pH, increased CO2, and normal bicarbonate ion. These findings help to confirm the diagnosis of:

We have electrolytes in our blood, urine (pee), tissues, and other body fluids. Electrolytes are important because they help: Balance the amount of water in our body. Balance our body's acid/base (pH) level.
Common electrolyte imbalances include hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypochloremia, and hypophosphatemia. Acid-base imbalances, either acidemia or alkalemia, occur as a result of the addition of acid and depletion of alkali reserve, or the loss of acid with a relative increase in alkali reserve.