Acidemia

Acidemia

**Acidemia** is *abnormally high* acidity of the blood, which is usually caused by an increase in the concentration of acids in it, which are in trace or elevated concentrations. In some cases, acidemia may develop against the background of a decrease in the alkali content in the blood as a result of various pathological processes.

The acidity threshold at which the blood begins to be considered alkaline or acidic is defined as the pH value. Healthy human blood has a pH value close to 7.4. This means that in a normal situation, pH levels are between 7.35 and 7.5. Blood with a low pH is considered “acidic,” and blood with a high pH is “alkaline.” If the pH value of the blood falls below 7.0, then this is already a clear acidemia, and the lower the pH value, the higher the degree of acidemia.

Causes of acidemia

The most common cause of acidemia is metabolic alkalosis, which can be caused by:

- excessive loss of electrolytes, for example due to excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, burns and injuries; - long-term anesthesia, therapy with diuretics, some antibacterial drugs, etc. - inadequate intake of alkalis or alkaline compounds. Depending on the underlying cause of the pathological process, *various symptoms of acidemia may appear*. Symptoms of the disease may vary depending on the form of acidemia (both pronounced and latent), the intensity of its course, the stage of the disease (active phase, phase of reverse development, compensation period) and the age of the patient.

As a rule, patients note weakness, increased fatigue, thirst, lack of appetite, diarrhea, headaches.

Acidemia

Acidemia is a violation of the acid-base balance in the body, when the blood contains abnormally high acidity. This can happen if there are too many acids or not enough alkalis in the blood circulation. In medical terminology, acidemia is called secondary acidosis. Acid is used in biology in almost all biochemical reactions to facilitate the transfer of electrodes from one atom to another. Also, in small quantities, acids supply energy for the body to function at the cellular level. For example, glucose (the main source of energy for cells) is the basis for phosphoglycerate, which participates in the energy cycle of glycolysis. But if there is an excess or deficiency of acid molecules, the normal functioning of all cells in the body may be disrupted. The reasons for the development of acidemia are varied. An imbalance in the acid-base balance in the body is often associated with problems with the kidneys, digestive system, liver, endocrine glands, and many other problems. Metabolic disorders, diseases of the neuroendocrine system, and immune defense disorders can affect the acid-base composition. Among the main reasons for the development of secondary acidamiation are diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, severe renal failure, long-term treatment with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, etc. Heavy metal poisoning often results in alkalemic acidemosis. Such conditions are caused by a high content of carbonates in tissues with elevated concentrations of hydrogen ions. Because the kidneys have a greater ability to maintain acid-base balance compared to the lungs and other tissues, urine decreases in a state of alkalaemia. The mechanism of acidamicia caused by heavy metals is different from those caused by other causes. Until recently, the vast majority of alkali metal ions were considered safe when introduced into the human body, while others (for example, strontium) are usually considered as poisons only when concentrations are significantly exceeded. In the human body there is a special protective system aimed at maintaining the acid-base balance (it should not be below a certain level), and if a person receives a large amount of carbonates or alkali metals, then their intake is suppressed.