Acidosis Symptoms

Acidosis is the condition in which the acidic level in the blood increases because of the failure of the kidneys to remove the excess acid. This is a very serious condition and the symptoms of acidosis can point towards an underlying condition. Sometimes due to poor lung function there is a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood, causing respiratory acidosis. The kidneys and the lungs are the main organs that maintain a balance in the level of acid and bases in the body. Sometimes due to the inefficiency of these organs, either the acid level increases or the base level decreases, thus causing a build up of acids. With the changing lifestyle, acidosis has become a commonly faced medical condition. No proper diet or exercise and an increasing dependence on alcohol and smoking weaken the lungs and kidney, thus resulting in acidosis, which also leads to the breeding of bacteria and viruses. Acidosis has a very harmful effect on the body and should be treated immediately. However, to treat a medical condition, you need to first diagnose it, which is only possible if you are aware of its signs and symptoms.  To help you in this, we have given below the various signs and symptoms of acidosis.

 

Metabolic acidosis is a result of excessive acidity in the body or when the kidney does not remove enough acid from the body. The main symptom that results from metabolic acidosis is rapid and shallow breathing. The person may also feel very lethargic and he/she may also appear to be confused. Other symptoms include chest pain, palpitations, headache, altered mental status, such as severe anxiety due to hypoxia, decreased visual acuity, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, altered appetite (either loss of or increased) and weight loss (longer term), muscle weakness and bone pain. In cases where metabolic acidosis becomes severe, it can also lead to death.

 

This results from an increase in the buildup of lactic acid in the blood stream. Along with this, there is a low pH in body tissues and blood. It generally occurs when the oxygen level drops, with cells receiving less oxygen than what they usually get. The most common symptoms of lactic acidosis are nausea and fatigue. This is generally accompanied by deep and rapid breathing, vomiting and abdominal pain. In most cases the symptoms are visible after intensive or prolonged activity.

 

When glucose is unavailable because of insufficient insulin, the fat is used as energy source. This results in a ketone buildup which leads to diabetic acidosis. This complication is also known as diabetic ketoacidosisis (DKA). There are numerous symptoms of this form of acidosis. The symptoms may first manifest as thirst, headache and fatigue. Then, they can lead to rapid breathing and mental stupor. Sometimes, the patient also has difficulty in breathing. Gradually there develops a pain in the abdomen along with frequent urination, nausea and vomiting. The breath odor also turns fruity. The patient may also experience a decrease in appetite and stiffness in the muscles, along with aching.

 

Respiratory acidosis is the complication which arises when the lungs get filled up with carbon dioxide. This inability of the lungs to remove all the carbon dioxide produced in the body, is also known as hypercapnic acidosis. The most common symptoms are lethargy and confusion. The person also gets easily fatigued and constantly feels drowsy. There is also a shortness of breath. If the symptoms are not treated in time, then it can lead to severe complications.

 

This occurs when the blood becomes too acidic as a result of the failure of the kidneys to remove the acid properly. Renal acidosis can manifest itself in a wide range of symptoms. This complication is also known to cause rickets. Back pain, along with pain in the bones, is the most common symptom of renal acidosis. There is also a sense of confusion and fatigue. Other symptoms are the development of various bone disorders and the formation of kidney stones. The patient may also experience abdominal pain and muscle cramps. Subsequently there is a decrease in urine output and also rapid breathing.