Lactic acid – Types, Causes and Prevention

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What is lactic acid?

Lactic acid is an acid found in the body. Metabolic acidosis is a condition where there is too much acid in the body.

This usually begins when a person’s body starts to make too much lactate or under-uses the produced lactate, and the body cannot adjust to these changes.

People with acidosis have problems with the liver or kidney. The organs are unable to remove extra acid from the body.

So, lactate builds up in the blood and spikes up. This causes an imbalance in the body’s pH level.

The pH level of the body must be basic alkaline.

What are the types of lactic acidosis?

Lactic acidosis happens when the body is not receiving enough oxygen in the muscles to break down glucose or glycogen.

There are two types of lactic acidosis.

When there is a lower amount of blood flow in the tissues, the condition is called hypoperfusion. It is caused by blood volume and infection in the bloodstream leading to cardiac arrest.

Lactic acid doses are caused when there is improper cell function that reduces the blood flow and restricts it to certain areas of the tissue.

How can we identify lactic acidosis?

The body exhibits various symptoms of lactic acidosis. Several symptoms exhibited by the body can be associated with a medical emergency. Some of them are:

  • Fruity smelling breath could be a possible symptom of a serious complication of diabetes which happens when there is a buildup of ketones in the body
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes can be a symptom of jaundice which leads to lactic acidosis
  • Confusion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Rapid breathing

If a person displays any of the above-mentioned symptoms, they might have lactic acidosis, and it is important to get medical treatment immediately.

Some of the other lactic acidosis symptoms are:

What causes lactic acidosis?

Lactic acidosis can have a wide range of underlying health conditions including carbon monoxide poisoning, malaria and suffocation. However, some of the common causes include:

Heart diseases

Conditions like cardiac arrest and blockage may lead to reduced flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body that can increase lactate levels, as a result of which lactic acidosis develops.

Infection

Any type of infection can cause sepsis. When a person has sepsis, they experience a rise in lactate level in the body which is caused by decreased oxygen flow in the body.

HIV

Medications like nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhabiters cause lactic acidosis as they raise the levels of lactate in the body. This is a medication that is given as a treatment for HIV patients to stop the virus from replicating in the body and in turn, control HIV infection.

These may also cause damage to the liver which makes it harder for the body to process lactate.

Cancer

Cancer cells will create lactic buildup. This is due to an accelerated weight loss and progression of the disease.

Bowel syndrome 

Short bowel syndrome is a health condition where people experience a buildup of lactate caused by bacterial overgrowth in the bowel.

Use of Tylenol

Regular use of Tylenol can cause lactic acidosis. Tylenol can cause an accumulation of acid which spikes lactate levels in the blood. Another important factor to remember is that even though Tylenol is consumed in the right dosage it will have these effects on the body.

Excessive alcohol

Consuming too much alcohol for a long period of time can lead to lactic acidosis. It can also lead to alcoholic ketoacidosis. If it’s left untreated, it can be fatal.

Some of the other causes of lactic acidosis include

  • Cancer
  • Liver failure
  • Vitamin B deficiency
  • Medications
  • Sepsis and
  • Shock seizures

Preventing lactic acidosis

Exercising plays an important role in helping a person to improve their health. However, it is important to begin any exercise routine gradually.

Overdoing anything will result in harm. A person should not go from being a couch potato and trying to run a marathon within a week.

Gradually, they need to start with aerobic exercises and then slowly build up pace and include strength training in their regime.

Drinking a lot of water will help get rid of excess acid from the body. Also consuming a balanced diet including a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains and lean meat can improve overall health.

Getting plenty of sleep at night and giving ourselves adequate recovery can make us feel better.

If the lactic acidosis is caused by a medication or an underlying health condition, it is important to consult a medical professional for proper treatment.

The burning sensation caused in our body while participating in high-intensity interval training or intense exercising is probably due to lactic acid buildup, which is associated with playing a role in the body‘s metabolism during intense activities.

If lactic acidosis is left untreated, it may further lead to other risk factors like sepsis, thiamine, and trauma.

To sum up

A finer way to treat lactic acidosis is by treating the underlying health condition. The treatment may vary based on the individual.

Sometimes lactic acidosis may be a sign of a medical emergency.  In such cases treating the symptoms is important regardless of their root cause.

Treatments are given based on the root cause of lactic acidosis, and it will help a person get fully recovered if treatment is provided quickly.

FAQ

1.What does lactic acid do to your skin?

Lactic acid increases cell turnover and helps eliminate all the accumulated dead skin cells on the top layer of the skin.

2. What does high lactic acid do to the body?

When the lactic acid levels in the body are higher than usual, it can lead to a condition called lactic acidosis. It can upset the body’s pH balance and can also be fatal.

3.Is lactic acid in milk?

Lactic acid is a substance that is produced when there is a breakdown of sugar in an oxygen-free environment. It was first identified in milk containing sugar lactose and hence it is named lactic acid.
 Acidophilus milk is traditional milk that is fermented with lactic acid and used for therapeutic benefits.

4.How do you know if you have lactic acidosis?

If a person has lactic acidosis, their body may exhibit symptoms like abdominal discomfort, decrease in appetite, diarrhea breathlessness, nausea, feelings of discomfort, muscle pains irregular sleepiness and body weakness.

5.What is the main cause of lactic acidosis?

The major cause of lactic acidosis is a medical illness that lowers the blood pressure and there is little oxygen reaching the body’s tissues.

6.What foods to avoid if you have lactic acidosis?

It is better to avoid a few foods high in lactic acid like bread, soy products, cheese, pickled vegetables, pickled meat, beans legumes and beer.

7.How is lactic acidosis treated?

Lactic acidosis often progresses when there is a poor diagnosis. It is important to recognise the underlying condition which results in this serious health condition. Some of the ways lactic acidosis can be treated are by decreasing the intensity of exercises, resting, breathing exercises and medications.
 However, the treatment may vary based upon an individual and their underlying health condition. Therefore, it is always better to consult a medical professional for advice.

8.What are the dangers of lactic acidosis?

When there is lactic acidosis buildup, it can cause serious damage to the body including organs like kidneys, lungs, blood vessels, and the heart. If lactic acidosis is not treated properly, it may lead to organ failure and can cause death.


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The Information including but not limited to text, graphics, images and other material contained on this blog are intended for education and awareness only. No material on this blog is intended to be a substitute for professional medical help including diagnosis or treatment. It is always advisable to consult medical professional before relying on the content. Neither the Author nor Star Health and Allied Insurance Co. Ltd accepts any responsibility for any potential risk to any visitor/reader.

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