Acidosis occurs when the body’s pH is disrupted, resulting in excess acid. There are two main types: respiratory and metabolic, both producing similar symptoms, including confusion, fatigue, lethargy, and an increased heart rate. Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs become unable to efficiently remove enough carbon dioxide from the body, while metabolic acidosis occurs when the kidneys are compromised. Symptoms of both types include physical sensations such as tingling and a feeling of warmth and redness of the skin, especially on the face and chest.
Acidosis occurs when the body’s pH is disrupted, resulting in excess acid. Body pH is normally maintained by the lungs and kidneys, so when these organs are compromised, acidosis of body fluids occurs. There are two main types of acidosis: respiratory and metabolic. Both of these forms produce similar symptoms of acidosis, including generalized symptoms and more specific respiratory, cardiovascular, and physical sensations.
Respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs become unable to efficiently remove enough carbon dioxide from the body. This can be caused by diseases such as sarcoidosis, medications and obesity. Metabolic acidosis occurs when the kidneys are compromised and cannot remove enough acid from the body or when the body produces too much acid that overloads the kidneys. Diabetes, hyperchloremia, and liver failure can contribute. Both respiratory and metabolic acidosis can be acute or chronic.
Confusion, fatigue, and lethargy can all be symptoms of acidosis. Symptoms of this type can be quite general and can often be attributed to other conditions. These symptoms occur in acidosis due to central nervous system depression and, without treatment, can progress until the person becomes unconscious or even in a coma. Headache is another symptom, caused by dilation of blood vessels in the brain.
The respiratory symptoms of acidosis differ between the two types. In respiratory acidosis, shortness of breath may occur due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. With metabolic acidosis, the person exhibits deep and rapid breathing. Called Kussmaul respiration, it is caused by the body’s attempt to compensate for excess carbon dioxide by increasing the rate at which it is expelled from the body, thereby decreasing acidity.
There are also cardiovascular symptoms of acidosis. These symptoms are the same for both types and include an increased heart rate. This increase is due to the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by the high levels of acid, which subsequently releases catecholamines, epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Finally, there are physical sensations that are considered characteristic symptoms of acidosis in both types. The dilation of blood vessels, in addition to causing headaches, also causes a feeling of warmth and redness of the skin, especially on the face and chest. A tingling sensation may also develop in the fingers and toes, which may spread to the entire hand or foot. This symptom is caused by the drop in serum calcium levels due to increased acidity in the body fluids, resulting in hypocalcemia. If left untreated, this can develop into full-blown seizures and muscle hypotonia.
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