Acidosis is a type of acid-base imbalance in the body. The main manifestation is an absolute or relative excess of acids. Depending on the pH value, which means the concentration of hydrogen ions in the blood, acidosis is divided into compensated and decompensated. It depends on the excess of acids and deficiencies in the work of physiological and physicochemical regulation mechanisms.
Distinguish respiratory and metabolic acidosis.
Respiratory acidosis occurs due to hypoventilation as a result of damage to the central nervous system, as well as neuromuscular diseases, pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pulmonary failure.
Metabolic acidosis is expressed in a decrease in blood pH and a decrease in plasma bicarbonate due to loss of bicarbonate or an increase in the content of other acids. Untimely started treatment of metabolic acidosis can lead to arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. The causes of metabolic acidosis are various. These are alcoholic ketoacidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, poisoning with methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, salicylates, renal failure, diarrhea, the use of certain types of drugs, regular consumption of acidic foods.
If the patient has acidosis, the symptoms are often very difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of the underlying disease and are very similar to them, which causes a big problem for the doctor in terms of diagnosis. Acidosis in the facilitated form proceeds, as a rule, without symptoms. Sometimes in such acidosis, symptoms are expressed by mild nausea or vomiting, slight fatigue. Severe metabolic acidosis is characterized by the appearance of hypernoea. With hypernoea, the depth of breathing first increases, and then its frequency. In diabetic acidosis, the volume of ECG (extracellular (extracellular) fluid) may decrease. The same thing happens with the loss of the bases of the digestive system. In severe acidosis, circulatory shock is sometimes observed due to impaired myocardial contractility. An inhibited, stunned or soporous state may occur .
At the slightest suspicion of acidosis, an urgent examination is necessary. During the examination, arterial blood for gas composition is checked, urine analysis for pH and analysis of serum electrolytes are carried out. Carrying out these studies can show the presence or absence of metabolic acidosis, accurately determine the causes of its occurrence.
If acidosis is detected, treatment is usually carried out in a complex: they correct respiration, eliminate the etiological factor, electrolyte disorders, improve the rheological properties of blood, normalize blood circulation, tissue oxidation processes, and eliminate anemia and hypoproteinemia. For this, first of all, alkaline solutions are used. With compensated acidosis, sodium bicarbonate, a solution of nicotinic acid, and cocarboxylase hydrochloride are used. For the treatment of severe uncompensated acidosis, infusion alkalizing therapy is carried out using sodium bicarbonate in combination with trisamine.
During the use of drugs, it is necessary to monitor the indicators of acid-base balance and at the same time determine the ionogram. This is to avoid complications from the use of alkalizing solutions.
Thus, metabolic acidosis is a rather complex and serious disease. His treatment is carried out in stationary conditions under the constant supervision of a doctor. Self-medication in this case is absolutely unacceptable and can lead to serious health problems. Out of time diagnosis - this is not timely treatment.