Alkalosis - what is it? Alkalosis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Alkalosis is characterized by a changeacid-base balance in the body, which increases the amount of alkaline substances. This disease is quite rare and provokes serious changes in the work of all body systems. It can develop if there is a digestive disorder, trauma, during the postoperative period and with artificial ventilation of the lungs.
Alkalosis - what is it?
Alkalosis is an imbalance in the compositionthe body's buffer system. In this case, alkalis begin to predominate over the acids in the blood, and the pH increases. If, on the contrary, acids predominate over the bases, this indicates the development of acidosis - the acidification of the body, which is much more dangerous than alkalosis and more strongly affects the functioning of all systems.
Distinguish compensated and uncompensatedalkalosis. In the first case, the change in the acid-base balance does not go beyond the limits acceptable for the normal life of the organism (7.35-7.45), and it is quickly normalized by the introduction of chlorides and the normalization of the lifestyle and nutrition.
When the pH exceeds the 7.45 mark,uncompensated alkalosis. What it is? In a person with such an index of acid-base balance, the normal functioning of all body systems is disrupted. In particular, there are problems with the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and nervous systems.
Why there is a violation of acid-base balance in the body
The human body is full of mechanisms thatthroughout life regulate the normal state of the buffer system, triggering certain processes to normalize the acid-base balance. Foods that are eaten daily directly affect pH.
In violation of the acid-base balance, two conditions of the internal environment of the body are possible - alkalosis or acidosis.
Alkalosis - alkalization of the body. Alkaline compounds will prevail in the liquid system, and the pH will exceed 7.45.
Acidosis is an acidification of the body. It is a more dangerous condition, since the body to alkalis is more stable than to the effect of acids. That is why with any changes in the first place doctors prescribe a diet that allows to normalize the pH.
The mechanism of changes in the body with increasing pH
To respond correctly to changes in yourwell-being, you need to know what is dangerous alkalosis. It causes hemodynamic disturbances: lower blood pressure, heart rate, cerebral and coronary blood flow. On the part of the digestive system, there is a decrease in intestinal motility, which causes constipation.
There are dizziness, fallsperformance, fainting happens, depressed work of the respiratory center. Nervous irritability increases, hypertonic muscle appears, which can reach convulsions and tetany.
Types of alkalosis
Depending on the origin of the disease, there are three groups of alkaloses:
- Gas - occurs when hyperventilation. The increased oxygen concentration during inhalation contributes to the excessive excretion of carbon dioxide during exhalation. This pathology is called respiratory alkalosis. It may occur with blood loss, head injuries, effects on the body of various drugs (corazol, caffeine, microbial toxins).
- Non-gas - has several forms, each of which develops under certain conditions and causes particular changes in the body.
- Mixed - occurs when head injuries cause shortness of breath, vomiting, hypocapnia.
It is very important to diagnose alkalosis in a timely manner. What it is? Regardless of origin, the disease causes persistent changes in the functioning of vital systems of the body.
Forms of non-gas alkalosis
Non-gas alkalosis is divided into excretory, exogenous and metabolic.
Excretory - occurs with prolonged usediuretics, kidney diseases, gastric fistulas, indomitable vomiting (in which gastric juice is lost in large quantities), endocrine diseases (causing sodium retention in the body).
Exogenous alkalosis develops with poor nutrition, when all food is saturated with alkalis when sodium bicarbonate is introduced into the human body to reduce the acidity of the stomach.
Metabolic - a rare phenomenon that develops withviolation of metabolic processes in which electrolytes are involved. This condition can be congenital (dysregulation of electrolyte metabolism), develop after extensive surgical interventions, or be diagnosed in children with rickets.
With alkalosis in humans, the frequency decreasesheart rate and pressure drops, the general condition worsens, working capacity decreases and weakness constantly haunts. In the presence of these manifestations it is necessary first of all to exclude alkalosis. Symptoms only indirectly indicate a violation of pH and need to be confirmed by examination of the body.
Causes of alkalosis
Alkalosis develops under the influence of exogenous andendogenous factors. The cause of gas alkalosis is hyperventilation of the lungs. In this case, there is an increased flow of oxygen into the body and, as a result, excessive removal of carbon dioxide.
Often alkalosis is observed in the postoperativeperiod. This is due to the weakening of the body during surgery and under the influence of anesthesia. Gas alkalosis can cause hypertension, hemolysis, rickets in children and a stomach ulcer.
The reason for the development of non-gas alkalosis is a lack or excess of gastric juice. Any changes lead to disruption of acid-base balance.
Metabolic alkalosis is caused by drugsincreasing alkaline content in the body. Contribute to the development of pathology and the use of products with a high content of bases or prolonged vomiting, causing rapid loss of chlorine.
Symptomatology of the disease
The first signs of gas alkalosis areincreased anxiety and overexcitement. The patient's head is spinning, attention and memory is deteriorating, paresthesias of the face and extremities appear, rapid fatigue from any communication is observed. In addition, drowsiness, dehydration, pallor of the skin appear (so-called "gray cyanosis" may develop).
Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by frequentheadaches, drowsiness, swelling and cramps of the limbs, lethargy, apathy to the world around us, decreased appetite, and digestive disorders. Skin rash may appear, it becomes dry and pale.
Alkalosis: diagnosis of the disease
Based on external signs and main symptomscan not make a diagnosis. To detect a violation of the acid-base balance in the body, you need to conduct a full examination (donate urine, blood, make an electrocardiogram).
In addition to the standard blood test is shown.micro-Astrup or pH meter, microgasometric test. When alkalosis is detected, the doctor prescribes a suitable treatment aimed at eliminating the root cause and neutralizing the subsequent symptoms.
Treatment of alkalosis
Treatment of gas alkalosis iselimination of lung hyperventilation. The patient is prescribed procedures for inhalation of mixtures of carbon dioxide (for example, carbogen) to restore normal acid-base balance.
Getting rid of the cause of imbalance is the firstwhat to do to eliminate alkalosis. Symptoms and treatment should be interrelated, then it will be possible to quickly neutralize the violation of the functioning of the buffer system of the body.
To eliminate non-gas alkalosis applyammonium chloride, potassium, calcium, insulin solutions. You can also enter drugs that inhibit the action of carbonic anhydrase and promote the excretion of sodium and bicarbonate ions through the urinary system.
People who developed alkalosis on the background of severepathologies immediately hospitalized. In metabolic alkalosis, calcium or sodium chloride solutions are administered intravenously. When hypokalemia in the body are injected solutions of potassium chloride, potassium-sparing drugs and panangin.
If alkalosis is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea orhemolysis, the treatment is primarily aimed at eliminating these reactions, and only then therapy is carried out to normalize the acid-base balance.
Prevention of alkalosis
For the prevention of pH disorders necessarywatch your lifestyle carefully. It is important to maintain proper diet and sleep, give up bad habits and get enough sleep. A normal diet with the consumption of a sufficient amount of fresh fruits and vegetables allows you to quickly normalize the acid-base balance and prevent alkalosis, the causes of which lie in the wrong diet.
You need to know which products increase the amount of acids, and which decrease (this will allow you to improve your condition faster):
- mineral water, dairy products and green tea contribute to an increase in alkali concentration;
- potato helps to reduce the number of bases in the body;
- The level of acids increases tea, coffee, bakery, sweets, fish and meat, so these products should be consumed in moderation;
- To normalize the pH is recommended to take alkaline baths and use the sauna.
Alkaline baths cleanse the body of toxins and reduce the level of acids. Saunas also have a cleansing effect, they affect the blood circulation and quickly restore the acid-base balance.
Alkalosis in children
In childhood against the background of many pathologicalThe condition of the disease develops much more often, this is due to the lability of the buffer system of the body. Metabolic alkalosis can develop on the background of any digestive disorders that are accompanied by vomiting (contributes to the loss of gastric acid) or diarrhea.
The most common cause of metabolic alkalosisbirth trauma, pyloric stenosis and intestinal obstruction become. Taking diuretic drugs also affects the acid-base balance of the buffer system and can cause hypoglycemic alkalosis.
Another common cause of disordersbalance of alkalis and acids is the wrong correction in case of acidosis in a child. Metabolic alkalosis can be hereditary, and the transport of chlorine ions in the intestine is impaired.
Pathology can be diagnosed using fecal analysis, it will contain chlorine ions, this element will not be detected in urine analysis.
Causes of gas alkalosis in children
Gas alkalosis in children can develop withhyperventilation of the lungs, which can provoke toxic syndrome that occurs in acute viral respiratory diseases, meningitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors and psychogenic reactions.
With artificial lung ventilation oftendeveloping compensated respiratory alkalosis. A lack of calcium, which was caused by an imbalance of the buffer system, can provoke convulsions, malaise, hand shake and sweating in the patient. Older children have numbness in the limbs, ringing and tinnitus. Acute hypercapnia can cause severe neuropsychiatric disorders in a child and even lead to coma.
Symptoms of alkalosis in children
It is very important to detect and eliminate in time.alkalosis in infants. Symptoms of a pH disorder in a child will manifest as in an adult: anxiety, irritability, drowsiness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and digestive disorders.
Symptoms of acid-base imbalanceindicator may vary slightly, depending on the reasons that provoked a change in pH. Also varies the degree of symptoms - from mild ailment to severe disorder in the work of vital body systems.
Having dealt with the concept of alkalosis (what it is and what are the causes of pH disorders), you can quickly detect the symptoms of pathology in oneself and quickly eliminate it.
