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What is Acidosis?

Definition: Acidosis is blood acidity occurred due to excessive acid in the blood or a decrease in bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis), or through increase of carbon dioxide in blood that results from poor lung function or slow breathing (respiratory acidosis) Causes: The kidneys and lungs controls acid/base (pH) balance in body. Acidosis happens when acid builds up or bicarbonate (a base) is dropped. The major types of acidosis are respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis. Respiratory acidosis happens when excessive carbon dioxide is builds up in the body, mainly caused by decreased breathing. Other names for this include hypercapnic acidosis and carbon dioxide acidosis. Types of metabolic acidosis Diabetic acidosis (also called diabetic ketoacidosis and DKA) happens when ketone bodies build up during uncontrollable diabetes. Hyperchloremic acidosis results from excessive amount of sodium bicarbonate is eliminated from body, as in severe diarrhea. Lactic acidosis: When amount of lactic acid is buildup in the body that can be caused by:
  • Alcohol
  • Cancer
  • Liver failure
  • Prolonged lack of oxygen caused by shock, heart failure, or severe anemia
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Medications such as salicylates
  • Seizures
  • Exercise for extended time
Other causes of metabolic acidosis: Kidney disease (distal renal tubular acidosis and proximal renal tubular acidosis) includes severe dehydration Exams and Tests: An arterial blood gas analysis or a blood chemistry, such as a Chem-20, will confirm acidosis in most cases. Other tests may be needed to determine the cause of the acidosis. Treatment: For treatment consult a health care provided as there is a different treatment for every type of acidosis. Outlook (Prognosis): Acidosis can be dangerous if untreated. Many types of cases considerable respond to treatment. Symptoms: When is the time to Contact a Medical Professional: Although different types of acidosis show different symptoms that require treatment by your health care provider. There might be no symptoms for people who have mild metabolic acidosis but usually they will experience nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Breathing becomes slightly deeper and faster (because the body tries to correct the acidosis by discharging more carbon dioxide). As acidosis worsens, people start feeling extremely weak drowsy, confused and increasingly nauseated. Finally, blood pressure may decline to shock, coma, and death. The foremost symptoms of respiratory acidosis may be headache and drowsiness. Drowsiness may grow to stupor and coma. Stupor and coma may arise within moments if breathing stops or is severely abnormal, or over hours if breathing is less dramatically impaired.

Diagnosis: Generally, diagnosing acidosis requires the measurement of pH of blood in a sample of arterial blood. Usually blood is taken from the radial artery in the wrist. Arterial blood is required because venous blood contains high levels of bicarbonate and thus is generally not as accurate as measure of the body's pH status.

For more accurate diagnosis the cause of the acidosis, doctors also measure the levels of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate in the blood. Additional blood tests may be carried out to help determine the cause.

Prevention: Preventing or treating basic causes may cease some cases of acidosis.

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