HOW DOES THE PH IMBALANCE AFFECT THE HUMAN BEING? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The pH imbalance can have serious consequences for human health, due to the increase in acidity of the blood and its alkalinity levels. The negative record of the concentration of hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution is called pH.

Danish biochemist Søren Peter Lauritz Sørensen first described this term in 1909. The "p" stands for the German word for potency (potenz), while the H is the symbol for the chemical element Hydrogen.

In humans, pH measures the acidity of the blood. Acidic or alkaline blood can interfere with processes in the body. This imbalance can be the result of illness or the cause of other problems.

Now, for the body to survive and function, it must maintain a pH range of 7.35-7.45 in arterial blood. The body uses the breath to keep it in this very narrow range. As you exhale, the acid is released through CO2.

In this way, if you hold your breath, acidity increases and consciousness is lost. On the contrary, if there is hyperventilation, the alkalinity increases, producing the same result.

PH imbalance: increased acidity in the blood

A pH lower than the normal range means that the blood is more acidic. This condition is known as acidosis, and it means that your body fluids contain too much acid.

This occurs when the kidneys and lungs cannot maintain the pH balance in the body. Acidosis can cause numerous health problems, and it can even be fatal.

On the other hand, there are two types of acidosis: metabolic and respiratory. The first occurs when the kidneys cannot remove enough acid or when they get rid of too many alkaline substances (or bases).

In the case of the second the lungs are unable to get rid of enough carbon dioxide.

Risk factors for both are: a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, kidney failure, obesity, dehydration, aspirin or methanol poisoning, and diabetes

It is essential that acidosis is treated immediately. If this problem is not treated in time, the person may experience complications such as: kidney stones, chronic kidney problems, kidney failure, bone disease and growth retardation.

PH imbalance: increased alkalinity in the blood

When the pH of the blood is above 7.45 it means that the body has too many alkaline substances.

This condition, known as alkalosis, can be due to a decrease in the levels of carbon dioxide (which is an acid) or to an increase in the levels of bicarbonate, (which is a base).

In this sense, this condition may be associated with other underlying health problems such as low potassium, or hypokalemia.

Its symptoms are varied, but in the initial stages they usually include: nausea, numbness, prolonged muscle spasms, muscle spasms, and hand tremors.

In any case, acidosis must be treated immediately, or the patient runs the risk of developing severe symptoms. These symptoms can cause shock or even a comatose state.

References

1. Helmenstine, AM (2017, June 29). What Does pH Stand For? Recovered from thoughtco.com.
2. How Our Bodies Go To Extraordinary Lengths To Maintain Safe pH Levels (2016, March 11). Forbes. Recovered from forbes.com.
3. Fox, M. (2017, July 18). Normal Body PH Range. Recovered from livestrong.com.
4. Allen, S., Cherney, S. and Boskey, E. (2017, June 6). Acidosis. Health Line. Recovered from healthline.com.
5. Khan, A. and Cherney, K. (2017, January 12). Health Line. Recovered from healthline.com.