Is Your Body Too Acidic? What You Need to Know About Lactic Acidosis

Have you ever felt very tired and sore for no clear reason? Or maybe you felt short of breath after doing just a little bit of work? These feelings can happen for many different reasons. Today, we will talk about what happens when a chemical called lactic acid builds up too much in your body. Doctors call this condition lactic acidosis. Do not worry; we will explain this in simple words.

Lactic acidosis is a serious medical condition that needs quick attention. When you understand how it works, you can spot the signs early. Let us break down everything you need to know about this health topic in clear, everyday language.

What is Lactic Acidosis?

Simply put, lactic acidosis means you have too much lactic acid in your blood. This happens when your body makes more lactic acid than it can clear away. It can also happen when your body cannot get rid of the acid properly.

Your liver and kidneys normally clean out extra lactic acid from your body. But if the acid level gets too high, or if your liver and kidneys are weak, they cannot keep up. That is when the acid starts to build up in your blood.

When your blood lactic acid level goes up just a little bit, doctors call it hyperlactatemia. If it keeps rising and makes your blood pH level too acidic, it becomes lactic acidosis.

Why Does Your Body Make Lactic Acid?

Lactic acid, sometimes called lactate, is a natural byproduct of how your cells make energy. Your cells turn glucose, which is sugar, into lactate to create energy. This process is called anaerobic glycolysis.

This process happens when your cells need quick energy but do not have enough oxygen. Normally, your body makes energy using oxygen. This is called aerobic metabolism. But anaerobic glycolysis acts like an emergency backup system.

If you run fast or lift a heavy weight, your muscles run low on oxygen. Your body uses this backup method right away. Lactic acid also forms when certain illnesses stop your body tissues from getting enough oxygen.

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What Happens When You Have Lactic Acidosis?

How lactic acidosis affects you depends on how severe it is. Some people get a temporary form of it after very hard exercise. That can make your body sore for a short time. If your liver and kidneys are healthy, your body clears out the extra lactic acid soon.

However, if your body keeps making too much lactic acid, or your organs cannot clean it out, the situation gets serious. This usually happens along with another illness. As your blood lactate level stays high and your pH drops, your heart pumps less blood. This can cause your organs to fail, and it can even be life-threatening.

What Are the Symptoms of Lactic Acidosis?

The signs and symptoms of this condition can change depending on how far it has progressed. They range from mild early signs to severe red flags.

Early Signs.

At first, you might notice these common signs:

• Feeling sick to your stomach and vomiting.
• Extreme tiredness and low energy.
• Fast, deep breathing as your body tries to get rid of extra acid.
• Muscle cramps and body aches.

Signs When the Condition Gets Worse.

If the problem gets worse, you may see more serious signs:

• Severe weakness and heavy sleepiness.
• Confusion and trouble thinking clearly.
• Trouble controlling your movements when you walk.
• Passing very little urine.

Other Related Signs.

You may also have signs from the health problem that caused the lactic acidosis in the first place. Conditions like sepsis, a severe blood infection, or shock can cause specific signs:

• Your body temperature dropping too low.
• Low blood pressure.
• Fever.
• Yellow skin and eyes, known as jaundice.

What Are the Main Causes of Lactic Acidosis?

Many things can cause this condition. Most often, the main cause is low oxygen levels in your blood or tissues. Doctors divide lactic acidosis into different types based on the cause.

Type A Lactic Acidosis.

Type A happens when your tissues do not get enough oxygen. This often happens during severe illnesses. It can also happen briefly during very hard exercise.

Health issues that cause your body to make too much lactate include:

• Lung problems that stop your blood from getting enough oxygen.
• Circulation problems that slow down blood flow to your tissues.
• Blood problems that stop red cells from carrying oxygen well.
• Shock states like septic shock, hypovolemic shock, or cardiogenic shock.
• Blocked blood flow to your intestines.
• Long seizures and severe injuries.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.

Type B Lactic Acidosis.

Type B happens without low oxygen levels in your blood or tissues. It has three main subgroups.

Type B1.

This happens when underlying health problems stop your body from processing lactate properly. These issues include:

• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.
• Thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency.
• Cancer.
• HIV or AIDS.
• Mitochondrial diseases.
• Diabetes-related ketoacidosis.
• Alcohol use disorder.

Type B2.

This type happens as a side effect of certain medicines, drugs, or poisons. Examples include:

• Cyanide poisoning.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Alcohol poisoning.
• Cocaine use.
• Certain HIV medicines.
• Asthma inhalers.
• Epinephrine shots for severe allergies.
• The antibiotic linezolid.
• Propofol used during surgery.
• Metformin for diabetes.

Type B3.

This rare type is caused by inherited enzyme problems. These genetic conditions are very uncommon. Examples include glycogen storage disease and pyruvate carboxylase deficiency.

D-Lactic Acidosis.

The types above involve L-lactate, which is the kind normally made by the human body. But a very rare form involves D-lactate. This type is made by bacteria living in your large intestine.

If these bacteria grow too much, they make extra D-lactate. Your body absorbs this into your blood. Because your liver and kidneys cannot process D-lactate, it builds up. This often happens as a complication of short gut syndrome.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Lactic Acidosis?

Doctors check for lactic acidosis using specific criteria:

• A blood lactate level higher than 4 mmol/L.
• A blood pH level lower than 7.35.

Doctors find these numbers by taking a blood sample and running lab tests.

What Tests Are Used?

Doctors order several tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• complete metabolic panel (CMP): A routine blood test that checks your overall health.
• Blood lactate test: A specific test that measures the exact amount of lactate in your blood.
• Anion gap blood test: A test that checks your blood pH and electrolyte balance.
• Arterial blood gas test: A test that measures oxygen, pH, and gas levels in your arteries.

How is Lactic Acidosis Treated?

If you have mild lactic acidosis from hard exercise or a brief seizure, it usually goes away on its own. Resting at home and drinking plenty of water helps your body recover.

In a hospital, doctors treat severe lactic acidosis right away. They give you fluids through an IV to help your circulation. They may also give you oxygen therapy or other life support care.

Next, the medical team focuses on the root cause. They treat whatever illness or poisoning triggered the lactic acidosis. If low oxygen is the issue, they treat heart, lung, or shock problems right away.

What Kind of Recovery Can You Expect?

Your recovery depends on the cause and how severe the condition is. Type A lactic acidosis linked to sepsis or shock is very serious. Other types can be milder and develop more slowly, giving doctors more time to treat them.

As blood lactate levels go up, the risk of serious health complications also rises. However, with fast and effective medical treatment, a full recovery is very possible.

Lactic acidosis is one type of metabolic acidosis. This means your body's normal acid management system broke down. Your liver and kidneys usually filter out extra acid. Taking care of your liver and kidneys by drinking enough water and limiting alcohol protects your long-term health.

Summary of Key Points.

Let us review the most important points from our guide today:

• Lactic acidosis happens when too much lactic acid builds up in your blood.
• Low oxygen levels in your body are a very frequent cause.
• Early signs include extreme tiredness, vomiting, and fast breathing.
• Doctors use blood tests to measure your lactate and pH levels.
• Treatments vary based on the underlying cause, ranging from rest to emergency hospital care.
• Quick medical care helps ensure a complete recovery.
• Keeping your liver and kidneys healthy helps protect you from acid buildup.

If you notice any unusual symptoms or have questions about your health, talk to your doctor right away. Stay healthy and take care of your body!

📖 Scientific Sources & References

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