Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body begins retaining too much acid, or fails to eliminate a proper amount of acid. Metabolic acidosis encompasses several types of acidosis, including lactic acidosis and ketoacidosis. Several medical conditions can cause metabolic acidosis, including diabetes, renal failure, some blood disorders, a lack of oxygen and the ingestion of toxic substances that break down to acids during digestion. Treatment options depend on the cause and usually address the underlying disorder.
Treatment
Treatments to restore acid balance include hemodialysis to filter out toxins the kidneys can't process, IV fluids and medications. Hemodialysis is usually reserved for someone suffering from kidney failure, especially if it is caused by the ingestion of toxins, such as ethylene glycol (antifreeze), methanol (fuel) or an overdose of salicylate (aspirin). Antibiotics and carbohydrate restriction can sometimes be beneficial for someone with lactic acidosis.
Severity
The severity of the acidemia, which is the term for excess acid levels, determines whether the condition is treated. For someone with mild acidemia, it is usually better not to interfere with the acidosis. Instead, doctors will attempt to regulate the disorder causing the acid imbalance. However, if blood pH is too low, it might be necessary to attempt to reduce the acidemia more quickly, instead of allowing the body to return to normal levels on its own.
Bicarbonate Therapy
Bicarbonate, or baking soda, is used when a patient requires emergency therapy to lower the acid level and restore a pH balance. This therapy is controversial, because it doesn't always work and can cause severe side effects. If a doctor gives too much bicarbonate, the patient might develop metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is the opposite condition of metabolic acidosis, where the blood becomes too alkaline. Bicarbonate treatment can cause respiratory issues, electrolyte imbalances and the depletion of optimal potassium levels. With severe cases of acidemia, most doctors find the risks associated with bicarbonate therapy warranted.
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