A patient comes to the emergency department with increasing drowsiness and confusion

A patient comes to the emergency department with increasing drowsiness and confusion. The nurse notes very slow breathing. The patient’s arterial blood gas (ABG) show: pH: 7.28 (normal range: pH: 7.35–7.45) PaCO₂: 58 mm Hg (normal range: 35–45 mm Hg) HCO₃⁻: 26 mEq/L (normal range: 22–28 mEq/L) Complete the statement: Because the patient’s breathing is slow and carbon dioxide is building up, the blood pH becomes Question Blank 1 of 2 , and the condition is Question Blank 2 of 2 acidosis.