Metabolic acidosis is an acid-base disturbance defined by a low pH andbicarbonatelevel in the bloodstream.
Metabolic acidosis can be mild, severe, or even fatal, depending on the underlying cause.
Treatments also vary and may involve nutritional approaches, medications, intensive care interventions, or some combination.
Bevan Goldswain / Getty Images
This article delves into metabolic acidosis’s biology, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
It also briefly reviews possible preventive and self-care strategies for managing metabolic acidosis, when applicable.
Bevan Goldswain / Getty Images
What Happens to Your Body If You Have Metabolic Acidosis?
A normalblood pHis between 7.35 and 7.45, indicating a balance between bases and acids within the bloodstream.
Depending on the cause of metabolic acidosis, an imbalance in positively vs. negatively charged electrolytes may also exist.
Calculating an Electrolyte Imbalance
Ananion gap blood testcalculates the difference between charged electrolytes.
Sodium and potassium are positively charged, whereas chloride and bicarbonate are negatively charged.
Ahigh anion gap metabolic acidosismeans the pH is low and the blood is not electrically neutral.
Anormal anion gap metabolic acidosismeans the pH is low, but the blood is electrically neutral.
High Anion Gap
A high anion gap metabolic acidosis results from acid accumulation.
It can also happen with pop in 2 diabetes, but that is not as common.
If sugar cannot enter the cells, the body breaks down fat, producing acids called ketones.
Depending on the underlying cause, additional symptoms of metabolic acidosis can also be present.
What Foods Are Good for Metabolic Acidosis?
Theprognosis(disease outcome) of metabolic acidosis depends largely on its cause and severity.
Milder cases, though, can often be managed well, if not possibly reversed with the appropriate therapies.
Summary
Metabolic acidosis is a disturbance in the body defined by a low pH and bicarbonate level.
If you have concerns about developing metabolic acidosis, speak with a healthcare provider.
Prompt detection is crucial to reversing or optimizing the management of this complex blood disturbance.
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