Symptoms of acidosis include:
- Confusion
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
Alkalosis can also occur due to an imbalanced pH level in the blood. Like acidosis, alkalosis can indicate a serious health condition [3]:
- Respiratory alkalosis is caused by low carbon dioxide levels in the blood. It's often due to temporary factors such as a fever, being at a high altitude, or lack of oxygen. It can also be a sign of liver disease or lung disease.
- Metabolic alkalosis happens when there's too much bicarbonate in the blood. It can be connected to certain kidney diseases.
- Hypochloremic alkalosis is caused by a lack of chloride in the body, often due to prolonged vomiting.
- Hypokalemic alkalosis occurs when the kidneys respond to a lack or loss of potassium.
Alkalosis symptoms may include:
- Confusion
- Hand tremor
- Muscle twitching or muscle spasms
- Lightheadedness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Numbness or tingling in the face, hands, or feet
Can a Woman's pH Balance Affect a Man?
Besides viruses that can disrupt pH levels through vomiting or diarrhea, most causes of pH imbalances can't be transmitted from woman to man or vice versa.
Women can have fluctuations in their vaginal pH. This can be related to issues such as bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis. Trichomoniasis can be passed from a woman to her partner during sex. Bacterial vaginosis, on the other hand, cannot be transmitted sexually. However, there is some evidence that the bacteria that cause BV can linger on male genitals and cause repeated infections in female partners [4].
If you suspect you have a pH imbalance, you should talk to your doctor. They can perform a medical test to check your pH levels and find the underlying cause.
