Excess acid in body causes shock, death - Physician warns

An Abuja-based medical practitioner, Dr John Okegwu, on Monday warned that too much acid in the body fluids could lead to shock or death.

Okegwu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that excess acid in the body fluid, a condition known as acidosis, occurred when the lungs and kidneys could not keep the body’s PH (acid base) in balance.

"There are two types of acidosis, respiratory and metabolic; any of these can cause organ malfunction leading to respiratory and kidney failure.

"The respiratory acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot eliminate carbon dioxide (C02) properly, while the metabolic occurs when the kidneys cannot get rid of acid build up,’’ he said.

The physician noted that some diseases such as obesity, sedative misuse and excessive consumption of alcohol could make the lungs not to function effectively, thereby, leading to respiratory acidosis.

"Some factors that contribute to metabolic acidosis are dehydration, kidney failure, high fat foods and also low-carbohydratediet.’’

According to Okegwu, acidosis cannot be completely prevented but there is a lifestyle to be avoided to lower the risk of respiratory and metabolic acidosis.

"Some of the preventive measures are maintaining healthy weight and living a non-smoking life which can reduce the risk of respiratory acidosis.

The medical practitioner said any type of acidosis was curable using sodium bicarbonate to boost the PH of the blood and given, either, by mouth or an intravenous drip.

Okegwu urged that before treatment was administered, the root cause of the acidosis should be ascertained to know the best cure.