Doctors use blood tests to diagnose acidosis, which can be caused by various medical conditions. The arterial blood test and metabolic profile blood test indicate which system is affected. Treatment may include oxygen supplementation or sodium bicarbonate infusions.
Doctors often use an arterial blood test (ABG) and a basic metabolic profile blood test to make a diagnosis of acidosis. The lungs and kidneys are the main acid/base buffers in the body and these tests usually indicate which system is affected. Further testing generally reveals whether medical conditions or toxicity are contributing factors. Diabetes, cancer, heart, kidney, and liver disease, along with lung disease, can cause acidosis. Treatment may include oxygen supplementation or sodium bicarbonate infusions to reduce acid levels in the blood.
When acid levels in body fluids exceed normal levels, the condition is known as acidosis, which can be caused by high levels of carbon dioxide. The lungs and kidneys, in turn, maintain the balance of acids and bases in the body. When the lungs fail to acquire enough oxygen, carbon dioxide levels in the blood rise, causing respiratory acidosis. When this happens, the kidneys try to compensate by allowing the sodium bicarbonate in the blood to rise.
Metabolic acidosis occurs when the kidneys cannot filter enough acids from the blood. The lungs respond by taking in more oxygen to neutralize the acid. Diabetic acidosis, also called ketoacidosis, is the result of ketones in the bloodstream that have developed because the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels. Lactic acidosis can occur after a strenuous bout of exercise or due to heart, kidney, or liver disease.
Healthcare professionals commonly use AGG as a means of diagnosing acidosis. The test indicates the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide and the pH of the blood. It also reveals oxygen and baking soda levels. If the blood gas analysis indicates a blood pH below 7.35, acidosis is diagnosed. A drop in carbon dioxide or sodium bicarbonate levels indicates whether the acidosis is respiratory or metabolic.
Health care providers often order a baseline metabolic profile, or chem-7, blood test, to get insight into electrolyte imbalances that can contribute to acidosis. A lab technician typically performs the test after drawing blood from a vein. The test provides information on glucose, calcium, sodium and potassium levels. Basic metabolic profiles also reveal levels of sodium chloride, carbon dioxide or bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and blood creatinine.
Tests that reveal hyperchloremia, or higher than normal chloride levels, can provide a basis for a diagnosis of metabolic acidosis. Hypochloremia, or decreased chloride levels, generally suggests that a diagnosis of respiratory acidosis is appropriate. Abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide typically indicate respiratory acidosis while lower than normal levels suggest ketoacidosis or metabolic acidosis. Hyperkalemia, or elevated potassium levels, could indicate metabolic or respiratory acidosis.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
