What is an alkalosis?
Every human being has a certain pH value in the blood, which should guarantee the functions of the cells and maintain the body function. In healthy people, this pH value is between 7.35 and 7.45 and is regulated by buffer systems in the blood. If this pH value exceeds 7.45, one speaks of an alkalosis, which can also be described as a disturbance of the acid-base balance.
Reasons for alkalosis
In the case of alkalosis, a distinction is made between Both differ in the causes of the development. – respiratory alkalosis and
- Metabolic alkalosis
In respiratory alkalosis, the cause is a so-called ventilation disorder in the form of hyperventilation. In this case, the breathing rate is increased and CO2 is emitted more frequently.
Examples for the development of respiratory alkalosis are During anaesthesia procedures, respiratory alkalosis can also occur by provoking unintentional hyperventilation. This topic might also be of interest to you: Pulmonary Embolism
- Psychogenic causes (stress/excitement),
- Hypoxemia (high altitude stay, pulmonary embolism),
- Pulmonary fibrosis,
- Restrictive pulmonary diseases
In the case of metabolic alkalosis, a further two groups are distinguished. In addition alkaloses, bases are taken up more frequently, whereas subtraction alkaloses are caused by the loss of protons (acid equivalents).
In both cases the acid-base balance is unbalanced and the pH value exceeds the standard value of 7.45. An addition alkalosis can be caused, for example, by the increased intake of sodium hydrogen carbonate, the sodium salt of carbonic acid, lactate or citrate. Sodium hydrogen carbonate is used in food technology, sports nutrition, medicine and agriculture.
Normally it is used in medicine as a buffer substance in the case of acidosis to compensate for this. On the other hand, excessive intake can lead to alkalosis. A subtraction alkalosis, on the other hand, is caused by the loss of acid.
Common causes here are chronic vomiting or gastric lavage. However, subtraction alkalosis can also be caused by certain drugs, such as laxatives or loop diuretics. Similarly, in the case of liver failure, metabolic alkalosis can occur, as basic protein breakdown products can be produced. The following articles may also be of interest to you:
- Addition alkaloses
- Subtraction Alkaloses
- Potassium
- Liver failure
- Loop diuretics
Renal insufficiency
Renal insufficiency is characterized by a decrease in renal function, with less urea being excreted than usual. The reduced excretion can lead to hyperacidity of the blood, as the urea accumulates in the organism. Renal insufficiency is often treated with certain draining agents (loop diuretics), which can lead to metabolic alkalosis. When treated with loop diuretics, the potassium and calcium levels in the blood can be reduced, which can disturb the acid-base balance, as these are important blood salts. The increased excretion of these salts and electrolytes eventually leads to an increase in the pH value in the blood and thus to alkalosis.