Acidosis

Acidosis, excessive acid in the body fluids. It is the opposite of alkalosis (a condition in which there is excessive base in the body fluids). This can occur as a result of overproduction, underexcretion, or both. With overproduction, the body makes too much acid. This can occur in sepsis, a life-threatening widespread infection in which the body makes too much lactic acid. With underexcretion, the body is unable to rid itself of excess acid. This can occur in renal failure and various lung diseases.

In renal failure, the kidneys are unable to cleanse the blood of acid. In pulmonary diseases, the lungs are unable to exhale sufficient carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a gaseous form of acid that builds up in the bloodstream. Both conditions may coexist in a number of serious diseases, such as pneumonia and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), which is seen in a particularly severe form of heart failure.

 Doctors diagnose acidosis with blood tests, the most common of which is known as a pH test. The normal pH of the body is 7.4 (lower is more acidic, higher is more alkaline). Acidosis is defined as a pH less than 7.4. Specific blood tests may be used to identify particular acids, such as lactic acid.

The treatment of acidosis depends on its cause. Therapy may range from simple interventions, such as oral medications and intravenous fluids, to invasive measures, such as dialysis and surgery. The outcome of acidosis depends on its severity. 

 Symptoms

Symptoms may include:

• Confusion;
• Easy fatigue;
• Lethargy;
• Shortness of breath;
• Sleepiness.

Popular treatments and recommendations 

• Many doctors recommend a vegetarian or low meat diet as alkaline minerals and vegetables help neutralize acidic waste. But vegetables only contain a very small amount of alkaline minerals and that is why a very large quantity of vegetables needs to be consumed in order to neutralize these wastes in the body.
• Drinking alkaline water is an easy and efficient way to help neutralize an acidic human body.
• Bronchodilators may be used if airway disease is causing decreased breathing efficiency.
• Mechanical ventilation or positive pressure breathing devices may be used.
• Oxygen may be given.
• Sodium bicarbonate may be given to decrease blood acid levels. 

Prevention

See your primary care physician if you are feeling acidosis symptoms. If you smoke or are obese, quit smoking and begin a healthy diet and exercise program. Avoid taking sedatives and, if you must take sedatives, do not consume alcohol while taking them.

References

• http://www.ionizers.org/acidosis.html
• http://www.ehow.com/way_5829169_acidosis-prevention.html
• http://www.balance-ph-diet.com/acidosis_symptom.html
• http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0004-27302006000400027&script=sci_arttext
• http://www.healthherbs.com/conditionitem.php?id=2
• http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/acidosis/overview.html
• http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/acidosis/treatments