Endocrinology >>>> Acidosis - causes of development and methods of treatment

Acidosis - causes of development and methods of treatment.

A change in the acid-base balance in the body towards an increase in acidic components is called "acidosis". With the correct course of metabolic processes in the body, acidic residues are formed - hydrogen ions, which are in an active state at a certain concentration in the extracellular and intracellular fluids. There is a control system in the body for the concentration of hydrogen ions in various environments, which, if necessary (with fluctuations in acidity), binds or releases hydrogen ions, protecting the body from adverse changes in its pH. The main task of the body is to bind unnecessary excess acid residues and remove them from the body by exhaling through the respiratory system, by urinating through the kidneys, by sweating through the skin.

Where do acidic residues come from in the body? At the moment of inhalation, the body receives a supply of oxygen, and in the process of metabolism, it releases carbon dioxide (the result of the decay of carbonic acid). The metabolism of protein compounds supplied with food leads to the formation of sulfuric acid residues. Fats and carbohydrates as a result of oxidation become sources of fatty acids (carboxylic acids), uric acid is formed from purine compounds that make up meat, liver, spleen, heart, fish and fish roe, legumes.

With acidosis, there is an accumulation of acids in the body (or a decrease in the concentration of alkalis). At the same time, acidosis activates the excretory system in the body in order to get rid of harmful substances - excess acids. But if the compensatory systems of the body fail (due to some diseases affecting the respiratory, circulatory or urinary system), then acidosis causes poor health and the development of other diseases (toxic lesions of various organs, stone formation, salt deposits, etc.). The most critical outcomes of acidosis are brain damage and death.

The reasons for the development of acidosis.

In addition to disruptions in the systems for removing excess substances from the body, the cause of acidosis can be:

toxic damage from inhaled gas mixtures,
chemicals that have entered the body that change the pH of the internal media of the body,
dehydration,
a change in diet towards foods that increase acidity (meat, dairy products, cereals, sour spices),
disorders of the circulatory system,
alkalosis.

Signs of acidosis can manifest in different ways:

Shortness of breath,
Nausea or vomiting,
Thirst,
Increased heart rate,
High blood pressure,
Drowsiness,
General weakness,
Dizziness,
Confusion or loss of consciousness,
Shock states.

Treatment of acidosis consists in identifying the causes of the development of this pathological condition and carrying out detoxification measures to reduce the concentration of acids in the body. For these purposes, dialysis is carried out in difficult cases, in non-critical cases, sodium bicarbonate infusion solutions are prescribed, and drinking plenty of fluids. During treatment, acidity indicators are monitored in various biological media: arterial and venous blood, urine, intra-articular fluid, etc.