A low level of bicarbonate in your blood may cause a condition called metabolic acidosis, or too much acid in the body. A wide range of conditions, including diarrhea, kidney disease, and liver failure, can cause metabolic acidosis.
Metabolic acidosis occurs in dehydrated patients with gastroenteritis; there are multiple causes of this acidosis. 1-5 It is generally believed that acidosis, equated with a reduced concentration of bicarbonate in serum, reflects the severity of dehydration, although no study substantiating this has been found.
Lower levels of carbon dioxide may mean you have: Metabolic acidosis, or your blood is too acidic. Addison disease, an adrenal gland problem. Ketoacidosis. This is a complication of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
The pCO2 gives an indication of the respiratory component of the blood gas results. A high and low value indicates hypercapnea (hypoventilation) and hypocapnea (hyperventilation), respectively. A high pCO2 is compatible with a respiratory acidosis and a low pCO2 with a respiratory alkalosis.
It is usually part of a larger test called an electrolyte panel. The kidneys and lungs maintain the concentration of CO2 in the blood.
Normal CO2 ranges.
| Age range | Conventional units | SI units |
|---|
| 18–59 | 23–29 mEq/l | 23–29 mmol/l |
| 60–89 | 23–31 mEq/l | 23–31 mmol/l |
| 90+ | 20–29 mEq/l | 20–29 mmol/l |
Symptoms
- Confusion (can progress to stupor or coma)
- Hand tremor.
- Lightheadedness.
- Muscle twitching.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet.
- Prolonged muscle spasms (tetany)
Alkali therapy of chronic metabolic acidosis can be achieved by providing an alkali-rich diet or oral administration of alkali salts. The primary goal of dietary treatment should be to increase the proportion of fruits and vegetables and to reduce the daily protein intake to 0.8–1.0 g per kg body weight.
Bicarbonate Reference Range
| Age | Conventional Units2 | SI Units3 |
|---|
| 0-18 years | Not available due to wide variability. See child's lab report for reference range. |
| Adult | 23-29 mEq/L | 23-29 mmol/L |
| >60 years | 23-31 mEq/L | 23-31 mmol/L |
| >90 years | 20-29 mEq/L | 20-29 mmol/L |
Bicarbonate therapy for metabolic acidosis is recommended at an arterial pH varying from as low as 6.9 to as high as 7.2. We suggest that bicarbonate therapy be given at pH 7.0 but that this target pH be a guide that is variable depending on clinical setting.
A low CO2 level can be a sign of several conditions, including: Kidney disease. Diabetic ketoacidosis, which happens when your body's blood acid level goes up because it doesn't have enough insulin to digest sugars. Metabolic acidosis, which means your body makes too much acid.
People with metabolic acidosis often have nausea, vomiting, and fatigue and may breathe faster and deeper than normal. People with respiratory acidosis often have headache and confusion, and breathing may appear shallow, slow, or both. Tests on blood samples typically show pH below the normal range.
Usual Adult Dose for Metabolic AcidosisAlternatively: HCO3 (mEq) required = 0.5 x weight (kg) x [24 - serum HCO3 (mEq/L)]. Moderate metabolic acidosis: 50 to 150 mEq sodium bicarbonate diluted in 1 L of D5W to be intravenously infused at a rate of 1 to 1.5 L/hour during the first hour.
HOW TO IMPROVE CO2 TOLERANCE
- Beginner: exhale slightly longer than inhale.
- Intermediate: exhale longer than inhale, and utilize a breath hold at the top of each inhale.
- Advanced: exhale much longer than inhale, and utilize a breath hold at the bottom (and top as well if you want the extra challenge) of the exhale.
What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Sodium Bicarbonate?
- Aggravated congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Cerebral hemorrhage.
- Swelling (edema)
- High blood sodium levels.
- Low blood calcium levels.
- Low blood potassium levels.
- Muscle spasms (associated with low calcium levels)
- Metabolic alkalosis.
Metabolic acidosis develops when the body has too much acidic ions in the blood. Metabolic acidosis is caused by severe dehydration, drug overdoses, liver failure, carbon monoxide poisoning and other causes.
Treatment for metabolic acidosis works in three main ways:
excreting or getting rid of excess acids.
buffering acids with a base to balance blood acidity. preventing the body from making too many acids.
Metabolic compensation
- insulin.
- diabetes medications.
- fluids.
- electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium)
The most common causes of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis are gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss, renal tubular acidosis, drugs-induced hyperkalemia, early renal failure and administration of acids.
The only definitive way to diagnose metabolic acidosis is by simultaneous measurement of serum electrolytes and arterial blood gases (ABGs), which shows pH and PaCO2 to be low; calculated HCO3- also is low. (For more information, see Metabolic Alkalosis.)
The most common drugs and chemicals that induce the anion gap type of acidosis are biguanides, alcohols, polyhydric sugars, salicylates, cyanide and carbon monoxide.
When your electrolyte levels are out of balance due to dehydration, you experience an acid/base (pH) imbalance. Specifically, your pH levels decrease, creating metabolic acidosis. Symptoms include confusion, fatigue, headache and increased heart rate.
Start to maintain a more alkaline pH in your body through diet by:
- Improving your intake of vitamins and minerals through food choices and supplements.
- Planning nutritious meals and snacks.
- Reducing sugar and caffeine.
- Keeping regular meal times—an important factor for maintaining blood sugar levels.
- Drinking a lot of water.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is naturally alkaline, with a pH of 8. When you add baking soda to your pool water, you will raise both the pH and the alkalinity, improving stability and clarity. Many commercial pool products for raising alkalinity utilize baking soda as their main active ingredient.
Known with several names such as sweet melon, rock melon, and spanspek, cantaloupe is a high alkaline fruit with a pH scale of 6.17 to 7.13. Cantaloupes are one of those alkaline fruits which are simply “loaded” with nutritious elements.
Drinking small amounts of baking soda is not usually dangerous. In adults, this can provide short-term relief from indigestion. However, drinking large amounts of baking soda is dangerous, and it is not suitable for long-term use, use during pregnancy, or use in children.
Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) is an alkaline mineral that's available in supplement form. Potassium is an important nutrient and electrolyte. It's found in many foods. Fruits and vegetables, such as avocados, bananas, potatoes, and spinach, are excellent sources.
Diets high in salt, soda, and animal protein can cause acidosis. People can moderate their intake of these foods and increase their daily intake of fruits and vegetables.
Treatments to Lower Acid*
- DASH DIET. Daily Servings.
- Whole Grains. 6-8.
- Vegetables. 4-5.
- Fruits. 4-5.
- Low fat milk. 2-3.
- Lean meats, poultry, and fish. 6 oz or less.
- Nut, seeds, and. legumes. 4-5 per week.
Baking soda can also help the detoxification process from chemical toxicity, heavy metals, and radiation. In cancer treatment, sodium bicarbonate is the perfect medicine, because it increases oxygen and increases carbon dioxide — and cancer cells do not like oxygen.
Use the following tips to decrease acidity in your body, reduce risk of diseases and optimize health.
- Reduce or Eliminate harmful acidic foods from your diet. Sugar.
- Choose healthier acidic foods.
- Increase alkaline foods to 70% of your diet.
- Incorporate alkalizing lifestyle choices.
