What is Acidosis?

According to ayurveda, Acidosis is called Amlapitta which is one of the most common issues seen in the people in todays lifestyle.

In Acidity issue, Pitta dosha is involved.

Acidosis comes under Gastro esophageal reflux disease( GERD)

This disease happens when acid in the stomach regularly flows back to esophagus. People suffering from acidity experience acid reflex.

Hydrochloric acid is present in your stomach which help in digestion of food and develop healthy bacteria. Excessive production of this acid leads to the disturbance in the gastric gland of stomach.

The acidity of your blood is measured by determining its pH. A lower pH means that your blood is more acidic, while a higher pH means that your blood is more basic. The pH of your blood should be around 7.4. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), acidosis is characterized by a pH of 7.35 or lower. Alkalosis is characterized by a pH level of 7.45 or higher. While seemingly slight, these numerical differences can be serious. 

Causes of acidosis

There are two types of acidosis, each with various causes. The type of acid reflex is categorized as either respiratory or metabolic  depending on the primary cause of your acidosis.

Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory acidosis occurs when too much CO2 builds up in the body. Normally, the lungs remove CO2 while you breathe. However, sometimes your body can’t get rid of enough CO2. This may happen due to:

chronic airway conditions, like asthma

injury to the chest

obesity, which can make breathing difficult

sedative misuse

overuse of alcohol

muscle weakness in the chest

problems with the nervous system

deformed chest structure

Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic acidosis starts in the kidneys instead of the lungs. It occurs when they can’t eliminate enough acid or when they get rid of too much base. There are three major forms of metabolic acidosis:

Diabetic acidosis occurs in people with diabetes that’s poorly controlled. If your body lacks enough insulin, ketones build up in your body and acidify your blood.

Hyperchloremic acidosis results from a loss of sodium bicarbonate. This base helps to keep the blood neutral. Both diarrhea and vomiting can cause this type of acidosis.

Lactic acidosis occurs when there’s too much lactic acid in your body. Causes can include chronic alcohol use, heart failure, cancer, seizures, liver failure, prolonged lack of oxygen, and low blood sugar. Even prolonged exercise can lead to lactic acid buildup.

Renal tubular acidosis occurs when the kidneys are unable to excrete acids into the urine. This causes the blood to become acidic.

Acid-base balance »

Risk factors

Factors that can contribute to your risk of acidosis include:

a high-fat diet that’s low in carbohydrates

kidney failure

obesity

dehydration

aspirin or methanol poisoning

diabetes

Symptoms of acidosis

Both respiratory and metabolic acidosis share many symptoms. However, the symptoms of acidosis vary based on its cause.

Respiratory acidosis

Some of the common symptoms of respiratory acidosis include the following:

fatigue or drowsiness

becoming tired easily

confusion

shortness of breath

sleepiness

headache

Metabolic acidosis

Some of the common symptoms of metabolic acidosis include the following:

rapid and shallow breathing

confusion

fatigue

headache

sleepiness

lack of appetite

jaundice

increased heart rate

breath that smells fruity, which is a sign of diabetic acidosis (ketoacidosis)

Doctors diagnose acid with a series of blood tests. An arterial blood gas looks at the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. It also reveals your blood pH. A basic metabolic panel checks your kidney functioning and your pH balance. It also measures your calcium, protein, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels. If these tests are taken together, they can identify different types of acidosis.

If you’re diagnosed with respiratory acidosis, your doctor will want to check the health of your lungs. This may involve a chest X-ray or a pulmonary function test.

If metabolic acidosis is suspected, you’ll need to give a urine sample. Doctors will check the pH to see if you are properly eliminating acids and bases. Additional tests may be needed to determine the cause of your acidosis.

Treatment for acidosis

Doctors usually need to know what is causing your acidosis to determine how to treat it. However, some treatments can be used for any type of acidosis. For example, your doctor may give you sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to raise the pH of your blood. This can be done either by mouth or in an intravenous (IV) drip. The treatment for other types of acidosis can involve treating their cause.

Respiratory acidosis

Treatments for this condition are usually designed to help your lungs. For example, you may be given drugs to dilate your airway. You might also be given oxygen or a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. The CPAP device can help you breathe if you have an obstructed airway or muscle weakness.

Metabolic acidosis

The specific types of metabolic acidosis each have their own treatments. People with hyperchloremic acidosis may be given oral sodium bicarbonate. Acidosis from kidney failure may be treated with sodium citrate. Diabetics with ketoacidosis receive IV fluids and insulin to balance out their pH. Lactic acidosis treatment might include bicarbonate supplements, IV fluids, oxygen, or antibiotics, depending on the cause.

Disclaimer: Information about this health concern was taken from Healthline.com.