### What is Metabolic Acidosis? Metabolic acidosis occurs when the chemical balance of acids and bases in your blood gets thrown off, making it more acidic. This can happen due to various reasons, and the treatment depends on the underlying cause. ### Causes of Metabolic Acidosis 1. **Ketoacidosis**: This happens when you have diabetes and don't get enough insulin, leading to dehydration. Your body burns fat instead of carbs, producing ketones that make your blood acidic. It can also occur in people who drink a lot of alcohol and don't eat enough, or when you aren't eating at all. 2. **Lactic Acidosis**: Your body produces lactic acid when cells don't get enough oxygen. This can build up during intense exercise, or due to conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrest, or severe infections. 3. **Renal Tubular Acidosis**: Healthy kidneys remove acids from your blood. Kidney diseases or certain genetic disorders can impair this function, leaving too much acid in your blood. 4. **Hyperchloremic Acidosis**: Severe diarrhea, laxative abuse, and kidney problems can lower bicarbonate levels, which helps neutralize acids in the blood. 5. **Respiratory Acidosis**: This occurs when your body has too much carbon dioxide due to lung problems, making the blood acidic. ### Symptoms of Metabolic Acidosis Symptoms can vary, but common signs include fruity-smelling breath (a classic symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis), fatigue, confusion, and rapid breathing. If you experience these symptoms, especially if severe, contact your doctor immediately. ### Diagnosis and Tests Doctors use various tests to diagnose metabolic acidosis: - **Anion Gap**: Measures the chemical balance in your blood. - **Arterial Blood Gases**: Measures the pH, oxygen, and carbon dioxide levels in your blood. - **Urine Tests**: Can reveal ketoacidosis, kidney problems, and poisoning from substances like alcohol or aspirin. ### Treatment The treatment for metabolic acidosis involves addressing the underlying cause. If not treated, it can affect your bones, muscles, and kidneys, and in severe cases, cause shock or death. Early treatment is crucial. Common treatments include: - **Fluids and electrolytes**: To restore balance. - **Medications**: To treat the underlying cause. - **Hospitalization**: In severe cases. ### Prevention While you can't always prevent metabolic acidosis, you can reduce the risk by: - Drinking plenty of water and non-alcoholic fluids. - Limiting alcohol intake. - Managing diabetes effectively. - Following medication instructions carefully.