Final answer:
Acid-base imbalance, particularly acidosis, results from either respiratory inefficiency or metabolic problems, leading to excessive acidity in the blood. This condition can make a client prone to respiratory distress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acid-base imbalance, particularly acidosis, can lead to various adverse health effects. Acidosis occurs when there is excessive acidity in the blood and body fluids, which may result from respiratory issues that limit exhalation of CO₂, causing its buildup in the bloodstream. Additionally, acidosis can be triggered by metabolic problems that affect the level or function of buffers acting as bases, or that increase the production of acids. For example, severe diarrhea can result in the loss of too much bicarbonate, leading to acid accumulation. Poorly managed diabetes can cause diabetic ketoacidosis due to the buildup of ketone bodies, which are acids. Furthermore, kidney failure, liver failure, heart failure, cancer, and other conditions can cause metabolic acidosis.
Given this background, acid-base imbalance can specifically make a client prone to respiratory distress.