Types of Alkalosis
Respiratory alkalosis confusion stupor coma hand tremor lightheadedness muscle twitching pH - arterial blood HCO3 (bicarbonate) pCO2 (partial pressures of carbon dioxide) pH Urine Chloride Cl
Hypochloremic alkalosis occurs when there’s a significant decline of chloride in your body. This can be due to prolonged vomiting or sweating. Chloride is an important chemical needed to maintain balance in bodily fluids, and it’s an essential part of your body’s digestive fluids.
Hypochloremic alkalosis results from either low chloride intake or excessive chloride wasting. Whereas low chloride intake is very uncommon, excessive chloride wasting often occurs in hospitalized children, usually as a result of diuretic therapy or nasogastric tube suctioning.
Hypokalemic alkalosis Hypokalemic alkalosis occurs when your body lacks the normal amount of the mineral potassium. You normally get potassium from your food, but not eating enough of it is rarely the cause of a potassium deficiency.
Alkalosis occurs when your body has too many bases. It can occur due to decreased blood levels of carbon dioxide, which is an acid. It can also occur due to increased blood levels of bicarbonate, which is a base.
Symptoms of alkalosis can vary. In the early stages of the condition, you may have: nausea; numbness; prolonged muscle spasms; muscle twitching; hand tremors; Serious symptoms. If alkalosis isn’t treated right away, severe symptoms can develop. These symptoms could lead to shock or coma.
Hypochloremic alkalosis occurs when there’s a significant decline of chloride in your body. This can be due to prolonged vomiting or sweating. Chloride is an important chemical needed to maintain balance in bodily fluids, and it’s an essential part of your body’s digestive fluids.
The most common cause of hyperventilation, and thus respiratory alkalosis, is anxiety. Other causes of hyperventilation and consequent respiratory alkalosis include pain, low levels of oxygen in the blood, fever, and aspirin overdose (which can also cause metabolic acidosis).
The treatment for respiratory alkalosis depends on the underlying cause. Panic and anxiety-related causes Treating the condition is a matter of raising carbon dioxide levels in the blood.