What is lactic acid?
Lactic acid is an acid found in the body. Metabolic acidosis is a condition where there is too much acid in the body.
This usually begins when a person’s body starts to make too much lactate or under-uses the produced lactate, and the body cannot adjust to these changes.
People with acidosis have problems with the liver or kidney. The organs are unable to remove extra acid from the body.
So, lactate builds up in the blood and spikes up. This causes an imbalance in the body’s pH level.
The pH level of the body must be basic alkaline.
What are the types of lactic acidosis?
Lactic acidosis happens when the body is not receiving enough oxygen in the muscles to break down glucose or glycogen.
There are two types of lactic acidosis.
When there is a lower amount of blood flow in the tissues, the condition is called hypoperfusion. It is caused by blood volume and infection in the bloodstream leading to cardiac arrest.
Lactic acid doses are caused when there is improper cell function that reduces the blood flow and restricts it to certain areas of the tissue.
How can we identify lactic acidosis?
The body exhibits various symptoms of lactic acidosis. Several symptoms exhibited by the body can be associated with a medical emergency. Some of them are:
- Fruity smelling breath could be a possible symptom of a serious complication of diabetes which happens when there is a buildup of ketones in the body
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes can be a symptom of jaundice which leads to lactic acidosis
- Confusion
- Trouble breathing
- Rapid breathing
If a person displays any of the above-mentioned symptoms, they might have lactic acidosis, and it is important to get medical treatment immediately.
Some of the other lactic acidosis symptoms are:
- Extreme fatigue
- Body weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Body pains
- Feeling of discomfort
- Abdominal pain
- Decrease in appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Rapid heart rate
What causes lactic acidosis?
Lactic acidosis can have a wide range of underlying health conditions including carbon monoxide poisoning, malaria and suffocation. However, some of the common causes include:
Heart diseases
Conditions like cardiac arrest and blockage may lead to reduced flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body that can increase lactate levels, as a result of which lactic acidosis develops.
Infection
Any type of infection can cause sepsis. When a person has sepsis, they experience a rise in lactate level in the body which is caused by decreased oxygen flow in the body.
HIV
Medications like nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhabiters cause lactic acidosis as they raise the levels of lactate in the body. This is a medication that is given as a treatment for HIV patients to stop the virus from replicating in the body and in turn, control HIV infection.
These may also cause damage to the liver which makes it harder for the body to process lactate.
Cancer
Cancer cells will create lactic buildup. This is due to an accelerated weight loss and progression of the disease.
Bowel syndrome
Short bowel syndrome is a health condition where people experience a buildup of lactate caused by bacterial overgrowth in the bowel.
Use of Tylenol
Regular use of Tylenol can cause lactic acidosis. Tylenol can cause an accumulation of acid which spikes lactate levels in the blood. Another important factor to remember is that even though Tylenol is consumed in the right dosage it will have these effects on the body.
Excessive alcohol
Consuming too much alcohol for a long period of time can lead to lactic acidosis. It can also lead to alcoholic ketoacidosis. If it’s left untreated, it can be fatal.
Some of the other causes of lactic acidosis include
- Cancer
- Liver failure
- Vitamin B deficiency
- Medications
- Sepsis and
- Shock seizures
Preventing lactic acidosis
Exercising plays an important role in helping a person to improve their health. However, it is important to begin any exercise routine gradually.
Overdoing anything will result in harm. A person should not go from being a couch potato and trying to run a marathon within a week.
Gradually, they need to start with aerobic exercises and then slowly build up pace and include strength training in their regime.
Drinking a lot of water will help get rid of excess acid from the body. Also consuming a balanced diet including a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and lean meat can improve overall health.
Getting plenty of sleep at night and giving ourselves adequate recovery can make us feel better.
If the lactic acidosis is caused by a medication or an underlying health condition, it is important to consult a medical professional for proper treatment.
The burning sensation caused in our body while participating in high-intensity interval training or intense exercising is probably due to lactic acid buildup, which is associated with playing a role in the body‘s metabolism during intense activities.
If lactic acidosis is left untreated, it may further lead to other risk factors like sepsis, thiamine, and trauma.
To sum up
A finer way to treat lactic acidosis is by treating the underlying health condition. The treatment may vary based on the individual.
Sometimes lactic acidosis may be a sign of a medical emergency. In such cases treating the symptoms is important regardless of their root cause.
Treatments are given based on the root cause of lactic acidosis, and it will help a person get fully recovered if treatment is provided quickly.
FAQ
1.What does lactic acid do to your skin?
2. What does high lactic acid do to the body?
3.Is lactic acid in milk?
Acidophilus milk is traditional milk that is fermented with lactic acid and used for therapeutic benefits.
4.How do you know if you have lactic acidosis?
5.What is the main cause of lactic acidosis?
6.What foods to avoid if you have lactic acidosis?
7.How is lactic acidosis treated?
However, the treatment may vary based upon an individual and their underlying health condition. Therefore, it is always better to consult a medical professional for advice.
