When you were a little sick and went to see a doctor, he gave you some blood tests, right? You may have seen a section called 'Electrolytes' in that report. It has values for Sodium, Potassium, and Bicarbonate, or CO2. Many people see this and think, "What is this bicarbonate?" This is actually a test that tells us a lot of important information about our body's health. So today, we'll talk about it very simply.
What is this bicarbonate?
Simply put, bicarbonate is a form of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas produced in our bodies. It's a waste product left over when we convert the food we eat into energy. But it's not just any waste product. It belongs to a class of substances called electrolytes .
Now you're probably wondering what these electrolytes are. Think of them as little messengers in our bodies. These electrolytes help keep our bodies hydrated, control the acidity of our blood, and help our nerves and muscles function properly.
So, bicarbonate is a very important substance that helps maintain the acid-base balance in our blood. Whether this amount is high or low, it can be a signal that something is wrong with our body.
At what point does a doctor recommend doing this bicarbonate test?
This is not usually a stand-alone test. Your doctor will usually order a test called an 'Electrolyte Panel' or 'Serum Electrolytes'. This will check your sodium, potassium, and chloride levels, as well as bicarbonate levels.
This test can be done as part of a routine annual medical checkup. Or, if you have the following symptoms, this test can help find the cause:
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhea.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Constant feeling of extreme fatigue and weakness.
Also, if you are already receiving treatment for a kidney, liver, lung, or digestive system condition, your doctor may ask you to do this test more frequently to see if the treatment is successful and the medication is working.
How do you do this test and understand the results?
It's very simple. A doctor or a trained nurse takes a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. That's it.
But remember, you should definitely tell your doctor about any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking, as some medications can affect the results of this test. Also, eating too many acidic fruits like oranges, tangerines, and grapefruit can sometimes have a small effect on the results.
A healthy bicarbonate level for an adult should be between 23 and 29 millimoles per liter of blood (23-29 mmol/L). However, this value can vary slightly from lab to lab, so it's best to compare it to the 'normal range' on your report.
The most important thing is, don't try to diagnose your illness on your own based on the values in this report. It is your doctor's responsibility to explain exactly what this means.
What does a low bicarbonate level mean?
If the bicarbonate (CO2) level in your blood report is lower than normal, it could be a sign of one of the following conditions:
| Potential Condition | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Kidney disease | This condition occurs when the kidneys are unable to filter blood properly and remove acids that accumulate in the body. |
| Diabetic Ketoacidosis | This is a potentially life-threatening condition for diabetics. When the body lacks insulin to use sugar, the acidity of the blood rises dangerously high. |
| Metabolic Acidosis | Simply put, the body produces too much acid or the kidneys are unable to remove it. |
| Addison's disease | This is a rare hormone-related disease that affects the function of the adrenal glands. |
| Aspirin overdose | Taking too much medication like aspirin can change the acidity of the blood. |
| Ethylene glycol poisoning | Antifreeze is a chemical found in some detergents. If you have any suspicion that you have been exposed to something like this, go to a hospital emergency room (ETU) immediately. Also, contact the National Poisons Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital. |
What does an increase in bicarbonate level mean?
Also, higher than normal bicarbonate levels can be a sign of certain health problems.
| Potential Condition | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Lung diseases | Especially in diseases like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), the body is unable to properly expel carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes the bicarbonate level in the blood to rise. |
| Dehydration | This value can increase due to changes in the chemical composition of the blood due to a decrease in the amount of water in the body. |
| Anorexia | This is an eating disorder. Malnutrition causes an imbalance in the body's chemistry. |
| Adrenal gland problems | Conditions like Cushing's syndrome can cause hormonal imbalances and cause this value to increase. |
Take-Home Message
- Bicarbonate (CO2) is an important electrolyte that controls the acidity and fluid levels in your blood.
- This test is usually done when there are symptoms such as persistent vomiting/diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and extreme fatigue.
- A low or high value of this can be a sign of various health problems, such as kidney disease, diabetes, and lung disease.
- Never diagnose yourself based on a blood test. Always talk to your doctor about it and get the right advice from him.
- It is very important to inform your doctor about all medications and supplements you are taking.
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