What acid-base imbalance is likely to occur due to an obstructive airway?

Obstructive airway conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, typically lead to difficulties in exhaling air from the lungs. This can result in the retention of carbon dioxide (CO2), as the body is unable to effectively eliminate it through expiration. When carbon dioxide accumulates in the blood, it combines with water to form carbonic acid, leading to an increase in acidity within the blood.

This increased level of carbonic acid disrupts the normal pH balance and causes respiratory acidosis. The condition is characterized by an elevated CO2 concentration, which is the primary driver of the decrease in blood pH. Thus, in the context of an obstructive airway, the most likely acid-base imbalance observed is respiratory acidosis, as the inability to expel carbon dioxide leads to an accumulation that affects the body’s acid-base homeostasis.