Acid Base Balance in our Bodies

Bianca L. Boyd
Bianca L. Boyd
July 3, 2022
4
min read
Reviewed by:
Diagnox Staff
Acid Base Balance in our Bodies
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Have you ever wondered about your acid-base balance? Many critical illnesses can easily upset or disrupt a person’s acid balance, and this disturbance in acid-base equilibrium may indicate other underlying diseases or organ damage. Regardless, it is essential to interpret the acid-base balance in our bodies.

Acid base balance requires simultaneous accurate measurements of arterial pH and plasma electrolytes [1]. pH balance is the measure of acidity or alkalinity. Simply put, it is the accurate measure of how acidic or alkaline it is. The range can go from 0 to 14, with seven being neutral. It is also essential to know compensatory physiologic mechanisms as well. A normal range of arterial pH is 7.35 to 7.45. pH is determined as the measurement of hydrogen (H+) ion concentration. However, an increase in H+ ion concentration can decrease pH and vice versa. Changes in the H+ ion concentration can be quickly stabilized with bicarbonate-carbonic acid, proteins, hemoglobin, and phosphates.

Common Acid Base Balance Upsets in the Body

If a person has irregularities in their acid base homeostasis, it might be necessary to look for the cause before intervening to normalize the pH. Some acid base disturbances can have many reasons that you can eliminate. You can start by looking at your arterial blood gas analysis. There can be some conditions that can be mild and do not require treatment. However, in some cases, hasty treatment can do more harm than acid-base imbalance. Critically ill patients can have more than one acid-base imbalance [2]. The most common acid base derangement can be divided into four categories:

- Metabolic Acidosis

- Metabolic Alkalosis

- Respiratory Acidosis

- Respiratory Alkalosis

There can be many disorders or even diseases that can lead to changes in the acid base balance of our body. These conditions are not rare or uncommon. However, acid base balance occurrences may cause severe damage to the body. Acid base misbalance can also be caused by asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease such as bronchitis, diabetic ketoacidosis, shock, stress, or anxiety, leading to hyperventilation.

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Acid Base Balance and How it is Linked to our Health and Wellness

We should consider our bodies as living laboratories with complex interlinked biological systems. The food we eat and drink and the oxygen we breathe are used in our cells as fuel. They go through various chemical reactions producing energy and nutrients to help our bodies function properly.

The pH environment of our bodies is central to ensuring that all processes and organs are functioning well. Any imbalance in the pH can derail an organ's optimum functioning, putting the organ's health at risk. A pH imbalance is generally one of the first physical signs that your health is at risk. Long-term imbalances in the pH often manifest as a disease that requires clinical interventions. Our health goal should always be to prevent disease and causes that may lead to health risks. In this regard pH of body fluids is an excellent (and often underutilized diagnostic) biomarker to keep track of general health and wellness.

When one is acidic, it will steal essential minerals from the body to neutralize the acid. An acidic body environment can cause fluid retention, often along with weight gain, and produces increased mucus. Many chronic diseases thrive in an acidic environment. Also, a low pH leads to gas and bloating due to inadequate protein digestion.

Maintaining Acid Base Balance is Important

As pH balance is the value given to indicate the acidity or alkalinity, it is merely a way of measuring our condition. The acid residues can be acid, neutral, or alkaline. pH value can have a profound effect on health and disease. Imbalances in the pH value mean that our body has become too acidic or alkaline. It can be a severe problem if our body becomes too acidic or too alkaline for extended periods; then it cannot be tolerated well by the body. There are effective ways to measure the pH balance. For example, Vaginox is an at home test kit to measure the vaginal pH level. It can also help determine and monitor the vaginal pH balance to find bacterial, parasitical or yeast infections. With Urinox-10 urinalysis test or a pH Test, you can easily determine the pH level of your urine, which serves as a good indicator of your body's acid base balance, especially related to your diet choices and the health of your metabolic system.

Our body goes on regulatory mechanisms of breathing, circulation and digestion, and hormonal production. Therefore, it is important to balance our pH levels to know about the certain changes that may occur in our bodies. If the pH deviates too far towards the acidic or alkaline side, the cells can become poisoned by their toxins and die. The pH imbalance can interfere with our potential for proper health and wellness. The body should always remain slightly alkaline to avoid disease and premature aging.

References

[1] C. Higgins, “Central venous blood gas analysis,” Acute Care Testing, [Accessed May 18, 2022].

[2] Healthline Staff, “Acid-Base Balance,” Healthline, [Accessed May 18, 2022].

[3] CDC Staff, “Diabetic Ketoacidosis,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Accessed May. 14, 2022].

[4] T. Frisch, "What’s Wrong vs What’s Not Right?" [Accessed Feb. 16, 2023].

About the Author
Bianca L. Boyd

Bianca L. Boyd is an audiologist and healthcare content writer passionate about understanding how various body biomarkers can provide insight into human health. With a degree in audiology, Bianca has dedicated her career to helping individuals with hearing impairments. She has always been fascinated by the ways in which the body can give us clues about our overall health and well-being.

As a healthcare content writer, Bianca has found a way to share her knowledge and expertise with a wider audience, helping to educate and inform people about the importance of maintaining good health. She is thrilled to be working with Diagnox, a company that shares her passion for improving the lives of others.

In her spare time, Bianca volunteers her time and efforts to animal rescue, working to help animals in need find loving homes and receive the care they deserve. With a strong sense of community and a deep commitment to making a positive impact, Bianca is dedicated to making a difference in the world.

About the Reviewer
This blog was
Reviewed by:
Diagnox Staff

Diagnox Staff consists of a multidisciplinary team of scientists, content writers, and healthcare professionals with an expertise to create and review high-quality, informative, accurate, and easy-to-understand content for both professionals and everyday readers. Our staff follows strict guidelines to ensure the credibility and authenticity of the information, reviewing them independently and verifying them by various scientific and technical sources to ensure accuracy. Our review team believes in delivering knowledge free from bias to improve public health and well-being.

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