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An acid-base imbalance occurs when the body’s fluids are out of balance, with symptoms including headaches, confusion, and coma. Causes include diet, lung disease, and medication. Metabolic acidosis can lead to acidemia and even death.
An acid-base imbalance is when the acidic and basic fluids in the body are disrupted and out of balance. When fluids are in the normal range they are said to be near a neutral pH state. This means that body fluids, or plasma, are neither alkaline nor acidic. Any plasma pH balance above 7.45 is considered alkaline or basic, and anything below 7.35 is acidic. Pure water has a neutral pH of 7.0.
There are many symptoms associated with the body’s inability to keep fluids in pH balance. These can include headaches, increased pressure within the skull, confusion, and even coma. The more imbalanced the pH balance is, the more severe the symptoms can be. Small fluctuations in the body’s acid-base balance are thought to be quite common and usually go unnoticed. Furthermore, it is not known what the medical consequences of these minor displacements are.
Acid-base imbalance can be caused by many different factors and diseases. A diet high in animal protein, for example, can create a condition known as metabolic acidosis. This is when the kidneys are unable to eliminate enough acid from the body. This can lead to a condition called acidemia or a pH below 7.35 and can lead to coma and even death. Metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis are both causes of acidemia.
Respiratory acidosis is a condition in which the lungs are unable to clear the body of carbon dioxide. This can create a circumstance where the bodily fluids become too acidic in nature. Obesity, lung disease, and some strong pain medications can cause respiratory acidosis. This acid-base imbalance can occur gradually or rapidly raise carbon dioxide levels, known as acute respiratory acidosis. Symptoms of this condition can include confusion, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
Mild or chronic metabolic acidosis is also thought to be caused by vigorous exercise, as this can increase the amounts of lactic acid in the system. Prolonged fasting and diarrhea are also thought to be linked to metabolic acidosis. Metabolic alkalosis is an acid-base imbalance in which the pH balance of the tissue is above the accepted range of 7.35 to 7.45. This is caused when increased levels of bicarbonate are present. There are several reasons for this condition, including loss of hydrogen ions due to vomiting, congenital chloride diarrhea, and contraction alkalosis, which can be caused by the use of diuretics.
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