Acidity of the blood: symptoms and causes, and does it cause death?
Do you feel short of breath or get tired quickly with the slightest exertion? These symptoms, along with other symptoms, may be due to high blood acidity, so what is blood acidity and what causes it to rise? And what are the symptoms that indicate it? Is it a serious disease? All of that you will know in this article.
What is the acidity of the blood?
Also called acidic blood or high blood acidity Metabolic acidosis It is a condition that occurs when the percentage of acids in the body rises due to the body’s inability to get rid of them or due to a disease that produces a lot of acids that cause an imbalance of chemicals in the body, which makes the body unable to perform its functions properly.
The acidity rate in the blood is measured by a scale called PH, and this normal blood acidity rate should be around 7.4 PH.
Causes of acidity of blood and risk factors
There are several reasons for the inability of the kidneys to get rid of excess acids in the body, and for the body to produce more acids, including:
- condition diabetic ketoacidosisIt occurs when blood sugar is not controlled, and the body produces substances called ketones, and they build up in the body.
- Loss of a large amount of sodium bicarbonate from the body, which occurs with severe diarrhea.
- Kidney diseases that affect their efficiency.
- Poisoning by aspirin or methanol.
- The body is severely dehydrated.
There is also a condition called lactic acidosis It occurs when the level of oxygen in the blood decreases, and it occurs for several reasons, including:
- getting cancer.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Exercising vigorously for a long time.
- liver failure.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Low blood sugar.
- Low level of oxygen in the blood due to trauma, acute anemia or heart failure.
- Convulsive seizures.
- Take some medications such as metformin and salicylates.
Risk factors that can lead to hyperacidemia include:
- Following a diet that contains a lot of fat and few carbohydrates (there are cases that have been recorded for those who follow the keto diet, the Atkins diet, and the Mediterranean diet, but there are not enough studies confirming that these diets in particular cause this disease).
- Kidney failure.
- Obesity.
- body dehydration
- Diabetes.
Symptoms of acidity of the blood
There are some symptoms that may indicate a high blood acidity, including:
- Anorexia.
- Rapid breathing (two approaches).
- Fatigue and fatigue quickly with minimal exertion.
- Headache.
- sleep deprivation
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and yellowing of the eyes).
- accelerated heart rate;
- Feeling confused and disoriented.
- Fruity breath (which indicates diabetic ketoacidosis).
- Nausea and vomiting.
Blood acidity analyzes
There are some examinations and tests that the doctor may order, not just one analysis, including:
- An arterial blood gas test that measures the pH (a unit of measurement for the acidity or alkalinity of the blood), the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
- Urine analysis to detect ketoacidosis, especially for diabetics who do not receive insulin.
- Some blood sugar tests to check for ketones in your blood.
- Anion gap test, which is a test that measures the balance of chemicals in the blood.
- lactic acidosis analysis.
Is acidity of the blood dangerous?
Yes, if this condition is not treated, some serious complications may occur, such as:
- Poor condition of the kidneys.
- Osteoporosis.
- muscle loss
- Endocrine disorders, and thus lose their ability to produce hormones efficiently.
- Slow growth rates of months Risks of acidity of blood in children.
- Infections occur in the body.
- Accumulation of proteins in the body, causing damage to the joints, brain and other organs of the body.
- Diabetic coma.
Is acidity of the blood cause death?
The aforementioned complications can actually lead to death if they are not detected and treated quickly, so you should beware of them, especially if you have kidney disease or diabetes, and you should also pay attention to the symptoms that indicate this condition.
Blood acidity treatment
Treatment depends on the cause, and includes the following:
Medicines for the treatment of acidity of the blood
- Intravenous fluids in the arm.
- Injection of sodium bicarbonate into a vein to reduce the level of acid in the blood.
- Detoxing the body, in case of drug or alcohol poisoning.
- Dialysis may be required if the cause is severe kidney disease or kidney failure.
Treatment of acidity of the blood for patients with diabetes
As for diabetics, treatment is done by:
- Insulin in diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Other diabetes medicines that control blood sugar.
Prevention of acidity of the blood
It is not always possible to prevent hyperacidemia, but there are some tips that can reduce your chance of developing it, such as:
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
- Do not drink any alcoholic beverages.
- Try to control your blood sugar.
- Follow a healthy diet that contains all nutrients in a balanced manner.
- Follow the doctor’s instructions if you are taking any kind of medication.