During acidosis, what compensatory response helps maintain cardiac output?

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Multiple Choice

During acidosis, what compensatory response helps maintain cardiac output?

During acidosis the body relies on sympathetic activation to preserve tissue perfusion. This drives the heart to beat faster and to contract more forcefully, increasing both heart rate (tachycardia) and stroke volume. Since cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume, boosting both components helps maintain adequate blood flow despite the acidemia. Slowing respiration would worsen acidosis, decreasing heart performance would lower output, and vasoconstriction alone doesn’t directly ensure adequate cardiac output in this setting.

During acidosis the body relies on sympathetic activation to preserve tissue perfusion. This drives the heart to beat faster and to contract more forcefully, increasing both heart rate (tachycardia) and stroke volume. Since cardiac output equals heart rate times stroke volume, boosting both components helps maintain adequate blood flow despite the acidemia. Slowing respiration would worsen acidosis, decreasing heart performance would lower output, and vasoconstriction alone doesn’t directly ensure adequate cardiac output in this setting.

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