Table of Contents
What is acid-base balance?
Your body’s pH balance, also referred to as its acid-base balance, is the level of acids and bases in your blood at which your body functions best. The human body is built to naturally maintain a healthy balance of acidity and alkalinity. The lungs and kidneys play a key role in this process.
How is acid-base balance measured?
A doctor evaluates a person’s acid-base balance by measuring the pH and levels of carbon dioxide (an acid) and bicarbonate (a base) in the blood. Blood alkalinity increases when the level of acid in the body decreases or when the level of base increases.
How do you interpret an ABG?
If the ABG results reveal pH numbers are not within the normal range, the patient’s pH level is either acidotic or alkalotic. The lower the number, the more acidotic the patient is. For instance, a pH of 3 is severely acidotic and requires emergency intervention. Alkalosis is the opposite.
What does a pH of 7.25 mean?
A quick introduction to the pH scale The right pH levels are needed for good health. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. The readings are based around a pH of 7, which is neutral, like pure water: A pH below 7 is acidic. A pH higher than 7 is alkaline or basic.
What are the 4 types of acid base imbalance?
There are four simple acid base disorders: (1) Metabolic acidosis, (2) respiratory acidosis, (3) metabolic alkalosis, and (4) respiratory alkalosis. Metabolic acidosis is the most common disorder encountered in clinical practice.
What happens if the pH of blood changes?
If the body does not reset the pH balance, it can lead to more severe illness. For example, this can happen if the level of acidosis is too serious, or if the person’s kidneys are not working well. Depending on the cause, changes in blood pH can be either long lasting or brief.
How do you know if you have too much acid?
Your stomach acid helps you break down and digest your food. Sometimes, a higher than normal amount of stomach acid can be produced. This can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and heartburn.
How is the acid base balance of a patient determined?
A primer for using the Tic-Tac-Toe method to determine acid-base balances: The column that the pH is in tells whether the patient has acidosis or alkalosis. The position of the pCO2, and HCO3-reveals the origin of any acid-base balance. If the pH and the HCO3-fall in the same column, the problem is metabolic.
What does HCO3 stand for in acid base balance?
HCO3 is just the chemical name for bicarbonate. Normal is 22-26 /mEq/l (milliequivalents per liter) This measures how much Tums are in your blood binding up the excess acid. If your HCO3 (Tums) level is 10, it means that there is not enough of it, and so the acid in your blood just builds up and the overall pH of your body goes DOWN!
How is carbon dioxide important to acid base balance?
As noted above, carbon dioxide is produced as a byproduct of the TCA cycle. This carbon dioxide is instrumental to acid-base balance in the body which is demonstrated with the following reaction: CO2 + H20 <-> H2C03 <-> HCO3- + H+ The carbon dioxide formed during cellular respiration combines with water to create carbonic acid.
Why do you need an alkaline-acid food chart?
Alkaline-acid food charts (fridge ready!) The reason behind this mini science lesson is that the foods we eat can affect the acid-alkaline balance of our blood. That means, the foods we eat can either help our body’s efforts to keep our blood’s pH at the optimal level… or they can hinder those efforts.