Increased acidity in the blood secondary to acid base imbalance. Causes include diabetes, kidney failure and shock
Symptoms of Metabolic Acidosis
The following features are indicative of Metabolic Acidosis:
chest pain
palpitations
headache
anxiety
decreased visual acuity
nausea
vomiting
abdominal pain
altered appetite
weight gain
muscle weakness
bone pain
joint pain
It is possible that Metabolic Acidosis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Metabolic Acidosis
The following are the most common causes of Metabolic Acidosis:
lactic acidosis
ketoacidosis
chronic renal failure
excessive production of acid by body
kidneys inability to remove excessive acid from body
Risk Factors for Metabolic Acidosis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Metabolic Acidosis:
excessive alcohol consumption
cancer
heavy exercises
seizures
Prevention of Metabolic Acidosis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Metabolic Acidosis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
by neutralizing the acidosis with infusions of bicarbonate ions
Occurrence of Metabolic Acidosis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Metabolic Acidosis cases seen each year worldwide:
Common between 1 - 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Metabolic Acidosis most commonly occurs in the following age group:
after birth
Common Gender
Metabolic Acidosis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Metabolic Acidosis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Metabolic Acidosis:
Basic metabolic panel: Group of blood tests to measure sodium and potassium levels
Urinalysis: Reveals severe acidic and alkalinic conditions
Arterial blood gas sampling: Helps in diagnosis of metabolic acidosis
Doctor for Diagnosis of Metabolic Acidosis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Metabolic Acidosis:
Endocrinologist
Complications of Metabolic Acidosis if untreated
Yes, Metabolic Acidosis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Metabolic Acidosis is left untreated:
lethargy
stupor
coma
seizures
cardiac arrhythmias
shock
Procedures for Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis
The following procedures are used to treat Metabolic Acidosis:
Dialysis: Clears both the intoxication and the acidosis
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Metabolic Acidosis:
Sodium bicarbonate therapy: Reduces the acidity of the blood
Time for Treatment of Metabolic Acidosis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Metabolic Acidosis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: