We are all familiar with the feeling of soreness in our bodies, especially our muscles, after a hard day of exercise or after doing some hard work around the house. Many people think that the cause of this soreness is the accumulation of a chemical called 'lactic acid' in the body. But is that really the case? Today, let's learn exactly about lactic acid, which many people misunderstand.
Simply put, what is lactic acid?
Lactic acid is a chemical that your body produces when your cells break down carbohydrates for energy. It's sometimes called lactate. It's most commonly produced by your muscle cells and red blood cells, but it can actually be produced by any tissue in your body.
Most people only know about lactic acid as something that happens during exercise. Yes, when you're working hard, doing yard work, or lifting something for a friend, your muscles produce a lot of lactic acid. That's because your body can't use oxygen to produce energy like it normally would.
Think about it, your body has two ways to generate energy. One is to generate energy using oxygen (aerobic). The other is to generate energy quickly without oxygen (anaerobic). When you suddenly do something like run or lift a weight, your body can't supply oxygen as quickly as it needs. That's when your body switches to the second way. A side effect of this second way is lactic acid.
But this short-term increase in lactic acid levels is not dangerous at all . It usually doesn't cause any symptoms. Your liver and kidneys filter this excess lactic acid from your blood and turn it back into sugar, called glucose, which can be used as energy.
So lactic acid isn't a bad thing?
Not at all! Lactic acid is something that is very important to our body. It is not just a waste product. It performs several important functions.
| Main functions of lactic acid | The rest is simply... |
|---|---|
| Providing energy | When your cells are overworked, such as during exercise, lactic acid helps provide the quick energy they need. |
| Gluconeogenesis | Lactic acid produced in the muscles travels through the blood to the liver and kidneys, where it is converted back into glucose and stored in the body for later use as energy. |
| Acting as a signaling molecule | Lactic acid is like a signal that carries messages throughout the body. Think of it like marking a road with flags when you're working. When there's an injury or an infection, lactic acid is what signals immune cells to "come here" to heal that area. |
So, isn't it really lactic acid that causes muscle soreness?
This is the biggest misconception among many people. No, lactic acid is not the cause of muscle soreness that occurs a day or two after exercise.
In the past, even doctors thought that lactic acid was the cause of this pain. But new research has found that lactic acid is removed from the muscles within a few minutes of exercise. So it doesn't have time to damage cells or cause pain.
This pain is actually caused by tiny tears (microtears) in the fibers of your muscles when you exercise hard. This is a good thing. Because as the body repairs these tiny tears, the muscle grows bigger and stronger than before. However, if you have severe pain , it could be a condition called a muscle strain. In such cases, it is important to rest and seek medical advice if necessary.
Lactic acidosis can be a dangerous condition.
There are two types of conditions that can cause temporary increases in lactic acid levels during exercise: lactic acidosis.
Lactic acidosis is a condition in which the level of lactic acid in the blood becomes dangerously high when the body is unable to properly remove the excess lactic acid it produces. This is a very serious, sometimes life-threatening condition.
This usually occurs as a complication of another underlying medical condition.
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure or cirrhosis
- Heart failure
- Severe infections and sepsis
- Some cancer conditions
| Common symptoms of lactic acidosis | |
|---|---|
| Nausea and vomiting | The body is trying to get rid of excess acid as quickly as possible. |
| Weakness | Feeling of lifelessness, especially in the muscles. |
| Stomach ache | Abdominal pain or discomfort. |
The most important thing is that you should never ignore these symptoms, especially if you have other medical conditions like diabetes or kidney disease. This is a medical emergency. You should go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible.
How are lactic acid levels measured?
If your doctor suspects that you have lactic acidosis, they will do a blood test to confirm the diagnosis. This will measure the amount of lactic acid in your blood. The doctor will then decide what treatment is needed based on the results.
In addition, there is a special test for athletes called the 'Lactate Threshold Test'. This is done to help an athlete know their maximum endurance limit and train safely. This test must be done under medical supervision.
Is lactic acid a birth control method?
This is also good to know. For some birth control methods, doctors recommend a special gel (vaginal gel) containing lactic acid, citric acid, and potassium bitartrate. This is something that is applied to the vagina before sexual intercourse. However, this is completely different from the lactic acid that is naturally produced in your body. The normal level of lactic acid in the body has no effect on pregnancy.
Take-Home Message
- Lactic acid is not a waste product, but rather a fuel and signal that provides energy to the body, helps it heal, and is a precursor to exercise.
- The muscle soreness that occurs a few days after exercise is not caused by lactic acid, but by microtears that form in the muscles.
- Lactic acidosis is a serious medical condition that can occur with other medical conditions. It should not be confused with normal exercise.
- If you have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or severe weakness, especially if you have other illnesses, see a doctor immediately .
- The best way to protect yourself from muscle injuries is to warm up thoroughly before any exercise and to regularly engage in stretching exercises .
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