Alkalosis and Acidosis

The degree of acidity or alkalinity is an important property of our blood. The acidity level increases with the increase in the level of acidic compounds in our body, or when the level of basic (also known as alkaline) compounds present in our body falls. The alkalinity level in our body increases when the reverse takes place, i.e., when the level of acidic compounds falls or when the basic compounds in the body increase. The acidity or alkalinity of any solution is indicated on the pH scale. Even a minor shift from the normal range can destroy...

Read More

Metabolic Acidosis Vs. Respiratory Acidosis

Increase in the acid content in the body is referred to as acidosis. It mainly occurs when the pH level falls below 7.35. There are two kinds of acidosis, respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis. These clinical disturbances can have several effects on the body, ranging from minor to severe. Let's find out about both these disorders by going over the following information. Metabolic Acidosis Metabolic acidosis is another type of medical condition called acidosis, where the production of H^ is increased. This increase in hydrogen ions in the...

Read More

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis

Metabolic acidosis refers to the condition where the acid-base balance of the body is disrupted due to an increased production of acid or the reduced excretion and decreased production of bicarbonates. The condition can ultimately lead to acidemia or acidity of blood, where arterial pH falls below 7.35. If this condition is left untreated, it can affect the central nervous system and lead to coma and even death. Causes Metabolic acidosis is caused by an increase in the level of acids due to increased acid production or ingestion of acids or...

Read More

Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment of Lactic Acidosis

Lactate is a by-product formed when glucose is broken down aerobically by the cell's mitochondria - the power house of the cell. When the body or a region of the body is deprived of oxygen, it leads to tissue hypoxia. This results in anaerobic breakdown of the glucose in the cells. The end product of this reaction is lactic acid. The blood pH becomes too acidic due to presence of excess lactic acid in the tissues. Thus, leading to lactic acidosis, a rare condition. People who suffer from this condition may develop serious complications, especially...

Read More

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Renal Tubular Acidosis

The process of breaking down of food in the body produces acids. These acids circulate in the blood, and it is the function of the kidneys to remove the excess acid from the blood and excrete it through urine. This filtration task is mainly done by the tubules of the nephron, which is the functional unit of the kidneys. There are around 800,000 to one million nephrons in a human kidney. In people affected with renal tubular acidosis (RTA), this function of the kidneys gets impaired, due to various reasons. This condition results in a rise in the...

Read More

Acidosis Symptoms

Acidosis refers to an abnormal increase in the acidity (excessively low pH) of the body fluids, resulting from excess acids or decrease in bicarbonates. It is classified into respiratory acidosis, and metabolic acidosis, which is further categorized into lactic acidosis, diabetic acidosis, and hyperchloremic acidosis. The symptoms of each of these types have been provided below. Respiratory Acidosis Inability of the lungs to expel carbon dioxide leads to its accumulation in the body fluids, thereby causing respiratory acidosis. This leads to...

Read More