Often, treating the pH imbalance involves treating the underlying condition.
pH Imbalance in the Body: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments
pH imbalances are conditions that happen when the levels of acids that your body uses to carry out essential functions get too high or too low.
Sometimes, factors as simple as intense exercise or dehydration can lead to temporary pH imbalances. In other cases, pH imbalances can be caused by chronic conditions such as kidney failure.
No matter the cause, pH imbalances can lead to symptoms such as confusion, headaches, and vomiting. Often, treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause.
The pH scale is a way of describing whether something is acidic, neutral, or alkaline. In your body, a specific balance of acid to alkaline, or pH balance, is needed.
The pH balance of substances such as your bodily fluids and organs can affect your digestion, hormones, metabolism, and overall body function.
When your body is healthy, it maintains pH balance on its own. Most of this balancing takes place in your kidneys, which filter acids and bases. Any acids or bases your body doesn’t need then leave your body in your urine.
But certain factors and health conditions can cause pH imbalances, which can make it difficult for your body to function as it should.
Acidosis occurs when your body cannot remove acid from your airways, your blood, or other body fluids. There are a few types of acidosis:
- Lactic acidosis:Lactic acidosis is a type of metabolic acidosis. It happens when too much lactic acid builds up in your blood.
- Diabetic acidosis: This type of metabolic acidosis happens when too many ketone acids build up in your blood.
- Renal tubular acidosis: This type of metabolic acidosis occurs when your kidneys let too much acid back into your blood.
- Hyperchloremic acidosis: This type of metabolic acidosis happens when the level of sodium bicarbonate, an alkaline, in your blood becomes too high.
- Respiratory acidosis:Respiratory acidosis occurs when your lungs don’t expel enough carbon dioxide.
Alkalosis occurs when your body is too alkaline. There are a few types of alkalosis, including:
- Metabolic alkalosis: This happens when there is too much of a chemical called bicarbonate in your blood.
- Respiratory alkalosis: This happens when there is not enough carbon dioxide in your body.
The symptoms of a pH imbalance depend on the type of imbalance you’re experiencing. Symptoms differ between metabolic and respiratory pH imbalances and between acidosis and alkalosis. Common symptoms of major types are listed below.
Metabolic acidosis symptoms:
Respiratory acidosis symptoms:
Metabolic alkalosis symptoms:
- confusion
- fatigue
- headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- loss of appetite
- rapid heartbeat
- heart palpitations
Respiratory alkalosis symptoms:
- headache
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- muscle spasms
- confusion
- sleepiness
The cause of a pH imbalance depends on the type of pH imbalance. For instance, diabetic acidosis is caused by a buildup of ketone bodies, and hyperchloremic acidosis occurs when your body doesn’t have enough sodium bicarbonate.
Causes of other common pH imbalances are listed below.
Causes of lactic acidosis:
- certain medications
- low blood sugar
- excessive exercise
- heavy alcohol use
- lack of oxygen
- dehydration
- liver failure
- kidney failure
- cancer
- seizure
- aspirin poisoning
Causes of respiratory acidosis:
- obesity
- high altitude
- lack of oxygen
- lung disease
- pneumonia
- chronic airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- chest injuries or abnormalities
- overuse of sedatives
- sleep apnea
Causes of respiratory alkalosis:
- fever
- lung disease
- lack of oxygen
- high altitude
- liver diseases
- salicylate poisoning
Anyone can get a pH imbalance from simple factors such as exercise or high elevation. However, the following risk factors increase your chances of developing a pH imbalance:
- type 1 diabetes
- kidney conditions
- liver conditions
- respiratory and lung conditions
- obesity
- epilepsy
- heavy alcohol use
It’s a good idea to make a medical appointment if you suspect you have a pH imbalance. A doctor can diagnose the imbalance and can begin treatment. Tests to confirm a diagnosis might include:
- Atrial blood gas:This blood test determines the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood.
- Metabolic panel: A metabolic panel can check the levels of proteins, fats, and other substances in your blood. It’s a good way to test kidney function.
- Glucose test: If you have diabetes, you’ll likely have a glucose test.
- Urinalysis: A urinalysis can check the proportion of acids being eliminated in your urine.
- Urine pH: This test will measure the acidity and alkalinity of your urine.
Treatments will depend on the type of pH imbalance you have and its cause.
For instance, insulin is the primary treatment for diabetic acidosis, but acidosis that is caused by kidney dysfunction, such as lactic acidosis or renal tubular acidosis, might be a sign that you need to begin dialysis treatments.
Often, treating the pH imbalance involves treating the underlying condition.
Examples of this include:
- using medications to treat COPD or other chronic respiratory conditions
- using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) to improve breathing
- being placed on a ventilator if you cannot breathe on your own
- treating a fever with appropriate medications
- drinking electrolyte solutions to address dehydration
- changing medications or starting new medications
Your exact outlook will depend on the type of pH imbalance you have and its cause. For many people, treatment can restore pH balance.
However, some pH issues are chronic or caused by chronic conditions. In these cases, you might need to take a new medication or take other steps to manage your pH in the long term.
Your pH balance is an important part of keeping your body functioning well. When your body becomes too acidic (as in acidosis) or too alkaline (as in alkalosis), it can lead to symptoms that make it difficult to manage everyday activities.
The exact symptoms will depend on the type of pH imbalance but can include sleepiness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, confusion, and vomiting. Treatment for a pH imbalance depends on the type and the cause.
Treatment plans typically focus on addressing the underlying cause. Often, once the underlying cause is treated or better managed, the pH imbalance will resolve.
Last medically reviewed on April 21, 2023
How to Tell if Your Body Is Acidic or Alkaline
Your body contains both acid and alkaline substances, and keeps them in balance to maintain a stable pH level. But certain conditions can throw off your pH and even cause health issues. To help you avoid potential complications, here’s how to know if you are alkaline or acidic.
Below, we explain alkaline versus acidic pH levels, how to know if you are acidic or not, pH imbalance symptoms and ways to check if your body fluids are alkaline or acidic.
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What Is Body pH?
Your body’s pH is a measure of how much acidity or alkalinity is in your system, according to a January 2022 StatPearls article.
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Wondering how to tell if something is alkaline or acidic? Per the Mayo Clinic, the pH scale — which ranges from 0 to 14 — can let you know if something is acidic or basic (alkaline). Here’s the breakdown:
The average pH of the human body ranges from 7.35 to 7.45, a slightly alkaline pH that’s important to help keep your blood oxygenated, according to the StatPearls article.
But if your pH levels go above or below that stable range, it can indicate conditions called acidemia or alkalemia. Here’s how to know if your body is acidic or alkaline based on pH numbers:
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Acidic vs. Alkaline
Now you know how to tell if your pH level indicates your body is acidic or basic. But what’s the difference between an alkaline versus acidic pH, really?
First, an acidic pH: If you know you’re acidic, it can indicate an underlying disorder like acidosis, according to the StatPearls article. This condition develops when too much acid builds up in your body or too many alkaline substances are lost, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Here are the different types of acidosis:
- Metabolic acidosis: This occurs when your body produces too much acid or your kidneys can’t remove enough acid from your system, and can be due to diabetes, kidney disease or severe dehydration.
- Respiratory acidosis: This occurs when there’s too much carbon dioxide in your body, often due to lung disease or a chest injury.
- Lactic acidosis: This occurs when too much lactic acid builds up, and can be due to underlying conditions like cancer, liver failure, severe asthma, low blood sugar, seizures, sepsis or drinking too much alcohol.
Now for the other half of alkaline versus acidity: If too many basic substances accumulate in your system, it can lead to a condition called alkalosis, according to the NLM. Here are the different types of the disorder:
- Metabolic alkalosis: This occurs when there’s too much bicarbonate in your body, often due to kidney disease.
- Respiratory alkalosis: This occurs when there isn’t enough carbon dioxide in your blood, often due to liver or lung disease, fever, lack of oxygen or being at high altitude.
- Hypochloremic alkalosis: This occurs when you have an extreme lack of chloride in your body, often due to severe vomiting.
- Hypokalemic alkalosis: This occurs when you have an extreme lack of potassium, often due to diuretic use.
- Compensated alkalosis: This occurs when you have abnormal carbon dioxide and bicarbonate levels, even if your acid versus alkaline balance is near normal.
Tip
The best way to determine if your body is alkaline versus acidic is to visit your doctor for a urine or blood test (more on that later), according to the NLM.
Symptoms of Unbalanced pH Levels
There are signs of poor pH balance in the body to be aware of. Per the NLM, here are symptoms of acidosis to look out for:
- Confusion
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Sleepiness
- Shock
- Symptoms of the underlying disease that led to acidosis
And when it comes to alkalosis, here are symptoms that may indicate your pH balance is off:
- Confusion, which can progress to stupor or a coma
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Numbness or tingling in the face, hands or feet
- Hand tremor
- Muscle twitching
- Prolonged muscle spasms
Tip
The best way to treat acidosis or alkalosis is to manage the underlying cause of the conditions, according to the NLM. You can also remove acidity or raise pH levels in the body by following an alkaline diet.
How to Tell if Your Body Is Alkaline or Acidic
Here’s how to know if you have more acidic or alkaline fluids in your body: Visit your doctor.
Indeed, the surest way to determine if you have an alkaline versus acid pH level is to have your doctor run some tests. According to the NLM, these may include:
- Arterial blood gas analysis
- Basic metabolic panel blood test
- Blood ketones test
- Lactic acid blood test
- Urine pH sample
Per the NLM, your doctor may also use other means to check for underlying causes of acidosis or alkalosis, such as:
- Chest x-ray
- CT scan
- Urinalysis urine test
Once testing is complete, your doctor will let you know if your urine or blood is acidic or alkaline and how best to proceed.
Tip
Follow your doctor’s instructions for each test to make sure you get the most accurate results. For instance, some blood tests require that you fast beforehand, so make sure to clarify these details with your doctor before the procedure.
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