Normal physiological blood pH value. How to find out blood PH, where to get tested, how to measure it at home with a device, test strips? Normal level of acidity, blood pH of a healthy person and blood acidity in cancer: comparison. Products,

Acid-base balance is important indicator any biological fluid body. As for blood, the ratio of acidic and alkaline components in it should normally be within a very narrow range, and even minor deviation can lead to a serious condition. The acid-base balance is determined by pH, which is also called hydrogen. pH stands for power Hidrogen, which translated means “the power of hydrogen.”

Norms

The blood pH level should be within the following limits:

• 7.32-7.42 – for;
• 7.37-7.43 – for arterial.

Conditions in which pH values ​​are below 6.8 or above 7.8 are not compatible with life.

ABOUT normal functioning the body says a stable amount of hydrogen ions. The pH level is normal if a person’s lungs, liver, and kidneys work smoothly, removing harmful elements, maintaining the desired acidity.

About violation acid-base balance Some disorders in the body may indicate:

• in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• in liver function;
• in the functioning of the lungs and kidneys.

This is manifested by the development of chronic diseases and deterioration of appearance.

How to take the test

A blood pH test may be needed for certain disorders in the body. During the study, the level of hydrogen content and total acidity is determined. The most reliable result is obtained by donating arterial blood, which is considered purer, and the amount of blood contained in it blood cells more permanently.

For analysis, blood is taken from the capillaries. The pH level is determined in the laboratory using an electrometric method. Measurements are carried out using glass pH electrodes. The number of hydrogen ions and the content of carbon dioxide in the blood are calculated.

Analysis transcript

Decoding of the received data should be carried out by a medical specialist.

Based on the digital values, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• If the indicator is 7.4, this indicates a slightly alkaline reaction and that the acidity is normal.
• A condition in which the pH level is higher than normal is associated with the accumulation of alkaline substances and is called alkalosis.
• If the indicator is below normal, this indicates an increase in acidity, and this condition is called acidosis (acidic blood).

Any deviations from the norm of this indicator require close attention And urgent treatment. Both acidification and alkalization of the blood are harmful to the body. Normalization of pH levels using special drugs should only be done under medical supervision.

Causes of alkalosis

Alkalosis can develop for the following reasons:

• for cardiovascular diseases;
• with psycho-emotional stress;
• after prolonged vomiting, during which a lot of acid contained in gastric juice is lost;
• for obesity;
• if the diet contains a lot of dairy foods and some fruits and vegetables.

When the blood becomes alkalized, metabolism is disrupted, food digestion worsens, minerals poorly absorbed, into the blood from digestive tract toxins come in. For these reasons, the following pathologies may develop:

• gastrointestinal diseases;
• allergies;
• liver diseases;
• skin pathologies.

Available chronic diseases begin to constantly worsen and progress.

Acidosis

Acidosis is more common than alkalosis. We can say that the body is more resistant to alkalization than to acidification.

Alcoholism often leads to acidosis. Sour blood It may also be a complication of diabetes.

Increased blood acidity does not manifest itself in any way if deviations from the norm are minor. In more severe cases, the following symptoms are observed:

• nausea;
• constant heartburn;
• vomit;
• lack of oxygen and breathing problems;
• fast fatiguability;
• diabetes symptoms.

When acidity increases, tissues and organs receive insufficient oxygen and nutrition. There is a shortage important elements: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and this leads to pathological conditions:

• general weakness;
• tumor processes;
• urinary tract diseases;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• bone fragility;
• muscle pain;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• joint pain;
• decreased immune defense.

How to determine at home

You can check the pH level yourself. To do this, you need to buy a special one at the pharmacy. electronic device who makes the puncture will take away required quantity blood, will analyze the received data using a microprocessor and display a digital result. But it’s still better to go to a laboratory for analysis. medical institution, where more accurate results will be obtained and a competent interpretation will be given.

What else affects pH

Acidity may change for the following reasons:

• bad ecology;
• poor nutrition;
• emotional stress;
• smoking;
• alcohol consumption;
• improper work and rest schedule.

Conclusion

Blood acidity is an important indicator of health, which should always be within the normal range. Body tissues are very sensitive to slight fluctuations in pH. Deviations of just 0.1 lead to cell destruction and enzymes losing the ability to perform their functions. Such changes may cause the development irreversible pathologies and even death. If the deviation from the norm is 0.2, coma occurs, and 0.3 – death. Therefore, to maintain health, it is necessary to maintain acid-base balance in the body.

Concentration hydrogen ions, which is expressed by the negative logarithm of the molar concentration of hydrogen ions - pH (pH=1 means that the concentration is 10 -1 mol/l; pH=7 means that the ion concentration is 10 -7 mol/l, or 100 nmol), significantly affects enzymatic activity on physical and chemical properties biomolecules and supramolecular structures. pH standard: inside the cell – pH=7.0 or 100 nmol/l, extracellular fluid– pH 7.4, or 40 nmol/l, arterial blood– pH 7.4, or 40 nmol/l, deoxygenated blood– pH 7.35, or 44 nmol/l. The extreme limits of blood pH fluctuations compatible with life are 7.0-7.8, or from 16 to 100 nmol/l.

Blood buffer systems:

1. Hemoglobin buffer is found in red blood cells.

Maintaining optimal acid-base status of the blood. Reduced hemoglobin – HHb, HHb+KOH=KHb+H 2 O;

KHb+KCl=HHb+KCl. Represented by the "deoxyhemoglobin-oxyhemoglobin" system. When excess hydrogen ions accumulate in erythrocytes, deoxyhemoglobin, losing a potassium ion, attaches a hydrogen ion to itself (binds hydrogen ions).

This process occurs during the passage of red blood cells through tissue capillaries, due to which there is no acidification of the environment, despite entering the blood

large quantity

carbonic acid. In the pulmonary capillaries, as a result of an increase in the partial tension of oxygen, hemoglobin attaches oxygen, giving off hydrogen ions, which are used to form carbonic acid and are subsequently released through the lungs.2. Carbonate buffer. 3 / H 2 CO 3 +KOH=KHCO 3 +H 2 O; 2 KHCO 3 +HCl=H 2 CO 3 +KCl; 3 )/ Normally, the ratio of these components should be 20:1, and the level of bicarbonates should be within 24 mmol/l. When an excess of hydrogen ions appears in the blood, sodium bicarbonate reacts, resulting in the formation of a neutral salt and carbonic acid, replacing strong acid(well dissociated into an anion and hydrogen ions) into a weaker acid (it dissociates more weakly into an anion and hydrogen ion), which is carbonic acid. Excess carbonic acid is released by the lungs. When excess alkali or an alkaline product appears in the blood, the second component of the bicarbonate buffer, carbonic acid, reacts, resulting in the formation of sodium bicarbonate and water. Excess sodium bicarbonate is removed through the kidneys. Thus, thanks to the lungs and kidneys, the ratio between bicarbonate and carbonic acid is maintained at constant level

, equal to 20:1.

3. Phosphate buffer.

KH 2 PO 4 +KOH=K 2 HPO 4 +H 2 O; K 2 HPO 4 +HCl=KH 2 PO 4 +KCl. Represented by salts

phosphoric acid

, di- and monosubstituted sodium (Na 2 HPO 4 and NaH 2 PO 4) in a ratio of 4:1. When an acidic product appears in the environment, monosubstituted phosphate NaH 2 PO 4 is formed - a less acidic product, and when alkalized, dibasic phosphate Na 2 HPO 4 is formed. Excess of each component of the phosphate buffer is excreted in the urine. 4. Protein buffer. Functional pH maintenance system: CNS (hypothalamus, respiratory center

) – behavior: external breathing; kidney function,

gastrointestinal functions , reg. Metabolism - result: 7.4 - chemoreceptors. Due to the presence of alkaline and acidic amino acids in plasma proteins, the protein binds free hydrogen ions, i.e. prevents acidification of the environment; at the same time, it is able to maintain the pH of the environment when it is alkalized. Maintaining blood pH is the most important physiological task - if there were no mechanism for maintaining pH, then a huge amount acidic foods resulting from metabolic processes would cause acidification (acidosis). There are 4 main mechanisms for maintaining ASR (

acid-base balance ): buffering; removal of carbon dioxide external respiration<= 7,4 <= алкалоз; респираторный ацидоз <= 7,4 =>; regulation of bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidneys;<= 7,4 =>removal of non-volatile acids in the urine (regulation of the secretion and binding of hydrogen ions in the kidneys).

25. Functional system for maintaining the optimal state of aggregation of blood for metabolism: coagulation and anticoagulation systems of the blood.

The mechanism of blood coagulation: main stages and their characteristics.

Blood has a fluidity that depends on the level of hematocrit, the content of proteins in the plasma and other factors. The main role belongs to the RAS system (regulation of the state of blood aggregation). In an intact body, blood fluidity is maximum, which contributes to optimal blood circulation. When there is an injury, the blood must clot. This is hemostasis. Hemostasis is based on complex mechanisms in which numerous factors of the coagulation, anticoagulation and fibrinolytic systems take part. The first steps towards discovering the mechanisms of blood coagulation were taken more than 100 years ago by the Dorpat physiologist A. A. Schmidt. He discovered some coagulation factors and recognized the enzymatic nature of reactions and their phase nature. In response to vessel damage, two sequential processes unfold - vascular-platelet hemostasis and coagulation hemostasis. Anticoagulant mechanisms –

these are substances that dissolve a blood clot, having a fibrinolytic effect, and substances that prevent blood clotting, which are called anticoagulants.

Blood coagulation system.

Coagulation process: damage - vascular-platelet hemostasis:

1. Constriction (narrowing) of blood vessels: reflex (pain); serotonin, adrenaline, thromboxane A2.

2. Adhesion (platelets begin to stick to the walls of the damaged vessel);

platelet aggregation (stick together); “white thrombus” – a clot of platelets that thickens (retraction)

Coagulation hemostasis is a series of sequential reactions involving blood coagulation factors - these factors are present in plasma, tissues, cells, and cells of damaged vessels;

12 blood clotting factors:

I. fibrin is formed from fibrinogen (synthesized in the liver) (the main component of a blood clot)

II.

Prothrombin is the main plasma protein, formed in the liver - thrombin (activates fibrinogen)

III.

tissue thromboplastin - formed in the liver.

IV.

calcium ions

V. proaccelerin, or Ac-globulin (aka factor VI)

VI.

XIII.

fibrin stabilizing factor

XIV.

Fletcher's factor (prokallikrein)

XV.

Fitzgerald factor (kininogen)

Coagulation occurs in 4 phases. In the first phase, prothrombinase is formed - a complex complex - an enzyme that promotes the transition of prothrombin to thrombin (second phase). The third phase is the formation of fibrin from fibrinogen under the influence of thrombin.

Then the 4th phase occurs - retraction or compaction of the clot.

Main stages of hemocoagulation.

1. Formation of prothrombinase (X a +V a +Ca 2+ +phospholipids) - prothrombin→thrommin→fibrinogen→fibrin.

The longest, occurs in the tissues (external mechanism) and inside the vessel (internal).

Internal path: boils down to the activation of the X factor. III →VII→VII a (Ca 2+, phospholipids) →VII a and VIII a give the same complex as in the external mechanism - X→X a +V a +Ca 2+ + PL.

External pathway: as a result of the interaction of blood with tissue, tissue thromboplastin (III) is activated.

XII→XII a →XI→XI a →IX→IX a →VIII→VIII a →the same complex VII a and VIII a - X→X a +V a +Ca 2+ + PL.

If the levels drop, problems begin with the absorption of minerals. Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium are completely eliminated from the body. Research was conducted at the University of California. It turned out that when bones become acidic, they become brittle. At first, the relationship could not be officially explained. Later, scientists confirmed that due to acid, calcium is poorly absorbed, and our body is forced to use reserve reserves.

What else is going on inside us? Oxygen is transferred to tissues less actively. In the future, this leads to the development of hypoxia - oxygen starvation. Cells stop receiving enough energy. The sources are there, but the oxidation reaction cannot occur. Because of this, weight increases. The disease is accompanied by a constant feeling of weakness and depression. Slowly but surely the internal organs are changing. The cardiovascular system suffers more.

If you ignore what is happening, diabetes becomes the next step. Similar symptoms may occur with hormonal imbalance; we write about how to determine it. Problems with joints and bones appear. The latter are also covered with abnormal growths. Excess acid accumulates in the muscles, causing pain. An advanced acid-base balance disorder with a downward shift has its own name - acidosis.

Alkalinization

The reverse situation is no less dangerous. The second “name” of alkalization is alkalosis. If with acidosis food is digested too quickly, then with alkalosis it is digested slowly. Food begins to rot, releasing toxins. Correcting such an imbalance is more difficult, but it is also extremely rare. In a special group are patients with ulcers taking medications.

Alkalosis manifests itself as poor appetite and weakness. Sometimes the skin starts to itch. Calcium is deposited in the kidney tubules. In later stages, this can lead to kidney failure. An aversion to dairy products may occur. The picture is complicated by the fact that chronic diseases are getting worse. This takes attention away from the real culprit. Increased susceptibility to allergens. Constipation is often a concern.

How to check the acid-base balance of your body?

Of course, if you suspect that the acid-base balance has been “neglected”, an analysis is simply necessary. Serious symptoms are a reason to consult a doctor. Under normal conditions, you can and should control your condition yourself. It is easier to work with saliva and urine. It is recommended to carry out the test 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after.

Urine

I already told you about the spread. For this reason, acid-base balance test strips should be used regularly. It is difficult to draw any conclusions based on one test. The result depends on:

• the presence of pathologies of the kidneys and bladder, as well as diseases affecting acidity
• pH level of gastric juice
• metabolism
• time of last meal, food quality
• volume of fluid consumed.

It is logical to assume that with a water shortage, the concentration of substances will in any case be higher. I don't want to scare you, but pH is directly related to kidney stones. When the indicator is below 5.5, urates are formed, from 5.5 to 6 - oxalates, above 7 - phosphates. If the pH is 9, there was an error in the analysis or testing. This often happens when the sample was not stored correctly.

Determining the acid-base balance will give a reliable result if the material was collected no more than 2 hours ago. You should not take diuretics before the test as this will affect the composition. You will have to temporarily give up beets and carrots.

It's easy to test yourself. Simply take a strip, dip it in the liquid you are testing, then look for the appropriate color on the packaging or instructions.

Saliva

How to find out the acid-base balance of saliva? The optimal time is 10-12 hours, on an empty stomach. In the evening and at night, less fluid is released. If there is not enough moisture to measure, you can use a little trick. Do you have lemon at home? Cut a slice and place a saucer with citrus in front of you. You don't need to eat the treat, just watch.

Low pH (less than 6.2) is ideal for pathogen development. The gums become inflamed and swollen, and tooth enamel is destroyed. Cavities form - caries. What is the first thing you usually do if your teeth start to hurt? Rinse with baking soda. In this situation, we can advise the same. You already know about the healing power of soda, I’ll just add that they try to bring the pH of the solution to 7.4-8. There cannot be a single recipe, since the acid-base balance of water in each region is different. You will have to constantly use litmus paper.

Vagina

Stripes will indicate delicate problems. Of course, paper will not replace treatment, but it will give a signal or calm you down. What do the results indicate?

1. 3,8-4,4 - the norm. Microflora is fine.

2. Below 3.8. Indicates inflammation. This may be due to a chronic or venereal disease. Low pH also prevents you from getting pregnant. Spermatozoa die before reaching their goal.

3. About 6. The environment is conditionally neutral. Most likely, there are no pathologies, but urgent restoration of the acid-base balance of the vagina is necessary! The microflora at this pH is simply not able to repel most attacks.

4. Above 7. Usually indicates thrush, colpitis or vaginosis. You should visit a doctor.

Gastric juice

It is almost impossible to check the acid-base balance of the body in this category directly and without procedures. At home, disturbances in the acid-base balance of the stomach are identified by symptoms.

Signs of elevated pH:	Signs of low pH:
heartburn, especially after sour and spicy foods	belching with a putrid odor
when thinking about lemons, apples, pickles, etc. there is a copper taste in the mouth	fermentation in the stomach
belching	heartburn
there is a pulling, aching, dull pain in the stomach, more often in the morning and when hungry	pain near the navel, appears after eating
bloating and heaviness	strong gas formation
digestive disorders	bowel disorders
Nausea or stomach pain after taking anti-inflammatory drugs

As you can see, the manifestations are largely similar, but it is not difficult to notice the deviation. In the latter case, sometimes the skin becomes dry and flaky, nails peel, grow slowly, and hair breaks. Acne may appear.

Leather

The pH value is interesting from a cosmetic point of view. Ideas about the normal acid-base balance of the skin vary, so let's take the widest range - from 4 to 6. I have never seen a wider range. A low pH is characteristic of dry skin, a high pH is characteristic of oily skin. To have an active effect, cosmetics must be aggressive, that is, acidic. Otherwise, it only dries and destroys the natural protective shell. This will not help even with acne, since the activity of the sebaceous glands will increase.

The cosmetic product is applied to the test strip and tested in the same way as any liquid. There are no general recommendations, just determine your individual norm. Next time you will know in advance which cream or shampoo will suit you and which will not. I will only say that the most effective (for example, anti-aging) agents simply must be aggressive. Look for a balance between benefit and harm.

Preventive measures

How to normalize the acid-base balance of the body and maintain it?

1. Drink plenty of water! The optimal amount is 30 ml per kg of weight.

2. Replenish your enzyme supply. They regulate food digestion and promote mineral absorption. Flower pollen contains not only enzymes, but also many vitamins, natural hormones, etc.

3. Introduce minerals into your diet. Calcium is especially important.

4. To maintain the acid-base balance of the body, the food table should bounce off the teeth! Intuition will not always help. For example, tomatoes and citruses do not acidify, but alkalize. The main “enemies” are soda and fast food. You can read more about nutrition in the article

Are you checking your body? Our text on how to check the acid-base balance of the body will allow you to notice deviations in time. Litmus strips are cheap and easy to use, taking 1-3 seconds.

Good health to you!

The acid-base balance is determined by pH, which is also called hydrogen. pH stands for power Hidrogen, which translated means “the power of hydrogen.”

Norms

The blood pH level should be within the following limits:

Conditions in which pH values ​​are below 6.8 or above 7.8 are not compatible with life.

A stable amount of hydrogen ions indicates the normal functioning of the body. The pH level is normal if a person’s lungs, liver, and kidneys work smoothly, removing harmful elements, maintaining the desired acidity.

Some disturbances in the body may indicate an imbalance in the acid-base balance:

• in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
• in liver function;
• in the functioning of the lungs and kidneys.

This is manifested by the development of chronic diseases and deterioration of appearance.

How to take the test

A blood pH test may be needed for certain disorders in the body. During the study, the level of hydrogen content and total acidity is determined. The most reliable result is obtained by donating arterial blood, which is considered purer and the number of blood cells it contains is more constant.

For analysis, blood is taken from the capillaries. The pH level is determined in the laboratory using an electrometric method. Measurements are carried out using glass pH electrodes. The number of hydrogen ions and the content of carbon dioxide in the blood are calculated.

Analysis transcript

Decoding of the received data should be carried out by a medical specialist.

Based on the digital values, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• If the indicator is 7.4, this indicates a slightly alkaline reaction and that the acidity is normal.
• A condition in which the pH level is higher than normal is associated with the accumulation of alkaline substances and is called alkalosis.
• If the indicator is below normal, this indicates an increase in acidity, and this condition is called acidosis (acidic blood).

Causes of alkalosis

Alkalosis can develop for the following reasons:

• for cardiovascular diseases;
• with psycho-emotional stress;
• after prolonged vomiting, during which a lot of acid contained in gastric juice is lost;
• for obesity;
• if the diet contains a lot of dairy foods and some fruits and vegetables.

When the blood becomes alkalized, metabolism is disrupted, food digestion worsens, minerals are poorly absorbed, and toxins enter the blood from the digestive tract. For these reasons, the following pathologies may develop:

Existing chronic diseases begin to constantly worsen and progress.

Acidosis

Acidosis is more common than alkalosis. We can say that the body is more resistant to alkalization than to acidification.

Alcoholism often leads to acidosis. Acid blood can also be a complication of diabetes.

Increased blood acidity does not manifest itself in any way if deviations from the norm are minor. In more severe cases, the following symptoms are observed:

• nausea;
• constant heartburn;
• vomit;
• lack of oxygen and breathing problems;
• fast fatiguability;
• diabetes symptoms.

When acidity increases, tissues and organs receive insufficient oxygen and nutrition. There is a deficiency of important elements: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and this leads to pathological conditions:

• general weakness;
• tumor processes;
• urinary tract diseases;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• bone fragility;
• muscle pain;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• joint pain;
• decreased immune defense.

How to determine at home

You can check the pH level yourself. To do this, you need to buy a special electronic device at the pharmacy that will make a puncture, take the required amount of blood, analyze the data obtained using a microprocessor and display a digital result. But it is better to go for testing to the laboratory of a medical institution, where more accurate results will be obtained and a competent interpretation will be given.

What else affects pH

Acidity may change for the following reasons:

• bad ecology;
• poor nutrition;
• emotional stress;
• smoking;
• alcohol consumption;
• improper work and rest schedule.

Conclusion

Blood acidity is an important indicator of health, which should always be within the normal range. Body tissues are very sensitive to slight fluctuations in pH. Deviations of just 0.1 lead to cell destruction and enzymes losing the ability to perform their functions. Such changes can cause the development of irreversible pathologies and even death. If the deviation from the norm is 0.2, coma occurs, and 0.3 – death. Therefore, to maintain health, it is necessary to maintain acid-base balance in the body.

How to determine blood pH?

Every liquid has its own level of acid-base balance, including human blood. The need to determine blood pH may arise if there is a disorder in the functioning of the body or the functioning of some organ system is disrupted. How to determine your “hydrogen index”?

Features of blood chemistry

The term blood pH refers to the level of hydrogen in the body and overall acidity. A normal balance of alkalis and acids contributes to the functioning of all systems and organs without failures.

If this balance is disturbed, pathological processes can begin:

• the activity of the digestive tract is disrupted;
• the work of the kidneys or lungs, which are responsible for cleaning incoming substances and air, is blocked;
• the liver, the main regulatory organ, begins to malfunction;
• appearance deteriorates, chronic diseases develop.

A stable content of hydrogen ions in the blood indicates a normal situation in the body. The acid-base balance is maintained due to the synchronous functioning of the kidneys, liver, and lungs. They act as “compensators”, remove a lot of harmful compounds from the body and maintain the level of acids and alkalis. Therefore, it is very important to control arterial blood pH to prevent the development of severe diseases.

Determination of chemical balance

During a routine examination or preventive procedures, the doctor may suggest donating blood for an acidity test. Data on the composition of the blood balance will help the doctor determine the strategy for further treatment and clarify recommendations for maintaining health. But you can determine the level of hydrogen in the blood even at home.

A small amount of blood is taken from the patient from a finger: arterial blood from the capillaries is used for analysis. Typically, the analysis of acids and alkalis in the blood is performed using the electrometric method in laboratories.

Arterial blood is purer, it contains the most constant number of blood cells and more stable acidity levels. This ensures the purity of the analysis results. Special glass electrodes count the level of available hydrogen ions. The level of carbon dioxide in the blood cells is taken into account.

However, you can do a similar procedure at home. Naturally, a professional analysis in an outpatient setting will be most effective, and the doctor will give qualified recommendations in case of detected disorders in the body. But sometimes it is not possible to go to the hospital.

Pharmacies sell a variety of devices that will allow you to do the analysis yourself. Such a device will make a miniature puncture in the right place and take the required amount of arterial blood for analysis. The built-in microprocessor will perform electronic analysis of the received data and display all the necessary indicators and results on the LCD screen. Such devices can be purchased upon request or purchased at specialized medical equipment stores.

Indicator values

The person did an independent blood test and received all the digital indicators. But what do they mean? Of course, a knowledgeable specialist will give a more qualified and detailed interpretation of the data received. But you can also make a primary history of your health situation yourself.

If acidity is within the normal range, the readings should be at 7.40 units. These data indicate the presence of a weakly alkaline reaction. When this number decreases, a diagnosis of “acidosis” is usually made; with an increased alkaline reaction, alkalosis is diagnosed (above 7.45 units).

The level of alkaline indicator is a fairly serious basis for treating and monitoring the condition of the body. Severe destabilizing deviations, at a level of 7.0 or above 7.8, are often incompatible with life and require urgent intervention.

Mild acidosis practically does not manifest itself and can only be detected by laboratory analysis. Symptoms that occur with progressive acidosis may include the following:

• signs of diabetes;
• lack of oxygen;
• shock at the primary stage of other chronic diseases;
• frequent nausea;
• gagging;
• breathing problems.

If a severe form of acidosis is detected, it is necessary to establish the reasons for the occurrence of such a deviation, and give the patient a solution of water and soda to drink when symptoms appear. Usually you need to call a doctor or go to a therapist.

Alkolosis causes metabolic disruptions in the body and occurs for several reasons:

• after prolonged vomiting, when there is a loss of stomach acid;
• in case of overdose of alkaline compounds (dairy products, some vegetables or fruits);
• with nervous overstrain;
• for obesity;
• against the background of cardiovascular diseases.

Eliminating the cause of the disease can normalize the acid-base balance. The treatment process usually begins with breathing exercises, which saturates the blood with oxygen and carbon dioxide compounds in a certain proportion.

Injections or ingestion of various solutions are also performed: potassium, insulin, ammonium and calcides. However, it is necessary to take into account the danger of self-medication and never make rough diagnoses for yourself or your loved ones.

Unauthorized use of drugs can not only worsen the condition, but also lead the patient to hospitalization. Any manipulations must be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist and only as prescribed by a doctor. At the same time, additional tests, for example, a venous blood test, may influence the treatment strategy. General conclusions and recommendations can be made only after a comprehensive examination.

If acidity levels appear to be normal, it is recommended to regularly check your pH level and eat right.

You can independently regulate the condition through proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. There are foods that are especially enriched with vitamins and promote the balance of substances. It is very healthy to eat green salad, cereals, all types of vegetables, dried fruits, potatoes, all types of nuts (mainly walnuts and almonds), mineral and plain clean drinking water.

Foods such as mango, melon, watermelon, lemons and oranges, spinach, sultanas, raisins, apricots, freshly squeezed vegetable juices, fresh apples, parsley and celery are good for increasing the level of alkali in the blood. A well-known remedy for most diseases is garlic and various medicinal herbs.

The main enemy is fatty, high-calorie foods, fried and smoked foods, alcoholic drinks, excess coffee, and frequent smoking. These foods and bad habits cause excess oxidation in the body. Harmful compounds do not leave the body, but settle on the walls of blood vessels. Long-term cleansing measures are required to eliminate the consequences of consuming such products.

There are special varieties of medicinal alkaline water for internal use. This water is enriched with ions and strengthens the immune system, removes toxins and waste, slows down the aging process and regulates the digestive organs. You can drink this water on an empty stomach in the morning, and take 2-3 additional glasses during the day.

Therapeutic ionized water has a good effect on the composition of the blood, but has a negative effect on the effect of some medications if they are taken together with water. It is recommended to take an hour break between taking tablets and ionized water. Special water can be used in preparing soups and drinks, or making tea or coffee with it.

It is necessary to regularly cleanse the body of accumulated salts and toxins. Accumulations of waste lead to many health problems. Your health worsens, your tone drops, and depression may develop. Just like viruses or germs, all toxins can be removed from the blood by drinking alkaline water.

Plan your diet and lifestyle so that problems with blood alkaline levels are no longer a concern. A competent diet and medical supervision, timely detection of acid-base imbalance will help maintain health and youth for many years.

Human blood acidity (pH)

Blood in the human body is a combination of living cells in a liquid medium, the chemical qualities of which are of no small importance for its life. For the cells of all systems and organs to function properly, the normal Ph level of human blood must be maintained, i.e., the balance of acid and alkali.

Why do you need to know this indicator?

Not every person understands what it is - blood acidity. Scientists from Denmark at the beginning of the last century first introduced the concept of Ph. They developed a range of acidity from 0 to 14 units. According to it, the Ph value is determined for any liquid, including blood.

The average value of the scale is 7 units and means a neutral environment. If the value is less than 7, the environment is acidic; if it is more than 7, it is alkaline. The acid-base level of any liquid depends on the number of hydrogen particles concentrated in it.

Blood acidity (or Ph level) is a constant value. It affects redox processes in the human body, metabolism, and enzyme activity. To maintain its stability, the body has buffer systems that control the level of hydrogen ions and prevent sudden changes in acidity.

Buffer systems are divided into:

There are also urinary and respiratory systems. The state of the body’s immune system and overall human health depend on the acid-base balance. Deviations from lead to the development of a number of diseases and accelerated aging of the body.

Acidity standards

In a healthy person, normal Ph is in the range of 7.32–7.45, which indicates a slightly alkaline blood reaction.

This value indicates that the concentration of hydrogen ions is normal and all body systems are functioning at the proper level.

The acidity level is slightly different for arterial and venous blood. In the first case, its normal value is 7.37–7.45, in the second – 7.32–7.42 units.

If the Ph value is less than 6.8 and more than 7.8, then this indicates the development of pathological processes in the body. The acid-base balance is also disturbed as a result of diseases affecting blood circulation.

Only with a normal pH value can all systems and organs function normally and remove waste products of metabolism.

Blood test for acidity and preparation for it

It is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis for certain disorders. Conventionally, this analysis is called “Indicators of acid-base balance.” Arterial blood is taken from the capillaries of the finger, which is purer than venous, and the ratio of cellular structures and plasma in it is almost stable.

Proper preparation is necessary to obtain reliable results. To find out the Ph level, you need to stop eating food 8 hours before donation, since blood is donated on an empty stomach, in the morning.

Determination of acidity in the laboratory

After collecting the material, the sample is delivered to the laboratory. In order to slow down the metabolism, as this affects the reliability of the result, gas bubbles are removed from the test tube and it is placed in ice.

In the laboratory, blood is analyzed using the electrometric method using glass Ph electrodes. The number of hydrogen ions is counted and the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood is determined.

Based on the data obtained, we summarize:

• if the value is 7.4 units – a slightly alkaline reaction, the acidity is normal;
• if the indicator exceeds 7.45, then there is alkalization of the body when the systems responsible for processing cannot cope with their functions;
• if the value is below normal (7.4), acidity is increased, which means either its excessive accumulation or the inability of buffer systems to neutralize these excesses.

Any deviation is harmful to the body and requires a more detailed examination of the person and the appointment of proper treatment.

Alkalosis and its causes

Alkalosis, or alkalinization of the blood, is a rare disease that occurs due to a large loss of acid in the body or due to the accumulation of alkali. A significant decrease in acid is possible due to frequent and prolonged vomiting (for example, in case of poisoning) or a violation of certain kidney functions responsible for regulating acid balance.

There are two types of alkalosis:

• gas, which develops due to increased release of carbon dioxide by the lungs (hyperventilation, constant exposure to high altitude - altitude sickness);
• not gas, which occurs with high alkaline reserves (intake of large amounts of alkali with food, metabolic disorders).

The main reasons leading to a decrease in acidity:

• excessive consumption of foods high in alkali (green tea, milk and products based on it);
• overweight, turning into obesity;
• presence of cardiovascular diseases;
• nervous breakdown, emotional stress;
• taking certain medications that lead to a disruption in alkaline balance.

With alkalosis, metabolic processes are disrupted, digestive activity deteriorates, and toxins enter the blood from the gastrointestinal system. These deviations provoke the development of liver and gastrointestinal diseases, skin problems and allergic reactions.

Acidosis and its causes

Acidosis is an increase in blood acidity. It is much more common than alkalosis due to the human body’s predisposition to oxidation. Due to dysfunction in any body system, leading to difficulty in excreting organic acids, they accumulate in the blood, causing an acidic reaction.

Acidosis is divided into three types:

• gas - appears when the lungs slowly excrete carbon dioxide;
• non-gas – develops due to the accumulation of metabolic products in the body or their penetration from the gastrointestinal tract;
• primary renal - possible as a result of a violation of some kidney functions caused by a large loss of alkali.

A slight change in acidity does not manifest itself in any way and is asymptomatic. In severe cases, rapid breathing and nausea leading to vomiting are observed.

The reasons causing this condition are:

• intestinal upset, prolonged diarrhea;
• urinary tract diseases;
• circulatory disorders;
• loss of appetite, poisoning, too strict diet (almost starvation);
• diabetes;
• heart failure leading to oxygen starvation.

In addition, pregnancy and alcohol abuse can increase the value of blood acidity. Acidosis can be provoked by a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet.

Determining acidity at home

Often people with any diseases are interested in the opportunity to find out the acidity of the blood on their own, without going to the clinic. It is important to know how to check it correctly.

Thanks to the availability of special portable devices and test strips in the pharmacy network, everyone has the opportunity to find out the acid-base balance of the blood independently at home.

When determining the pH level, the measuring device is applied to the finger, and a very thin needle is used to puncture it to collect a few drops of blood. Inside the device there is a microcomputer in which the values ​​are calculated and the final result is displayed on the screen. The procedure takes a minimum of time and is painless.

In order to determine Ph at home, you can also use test strips. You also need to purchase scarifiers for pricking your finger and follow simple recommendations:

• prick your finger;
• squeeze a drop of blood into a container or medical test tube, which is preferable;
• Dip the test strip into the blood and leave it there for a few seconds.

The result obtained should be compared with the scale printed on the packaging, select the appropriate color and determine the norm or deviation of the indicator.

Measuring acidity with a device is much easier, since the entire procedure occurs automatically: puncture, blood sampling, and output of the result.

Ways to normalize acidity

It is impossible to restore the balance of acid and alkali on your own in a pathological state of the body. But it is possible to lower or raise acidity by following a diet and taking medications as prescribed by a doctor.

Nutrition

A proper diet and sufficient fluid intake will help prevent the initial manifestations of imbalance.

Foods that increase acid levels:

• sugar, sweeteners, sweet drinks, including carbonated drinks;
• legumes, most cereals;
• seafood, fish;
• products made from flour, especially wheat;
• eggs, table salt;
• milk and dairy products;
• meat and food based on it;
• tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, including beer.

Constant consumption of these products provokes a decline in immunity, the development of gastritis and pancreatitis. Increased acidity in men increases the risk of impotence and infertility, as sperm die in an acidic environment. An increase in acid also negatively affects female reproductive function.

Products that increase alkali content:

• fruits (peach, mango, citrus, melon, watermelon, etc.);
• herbs (parsley, spinach);
• garlic, ginger;
• vegetable juices.

To maintain balance, some doctors advise drinking alkaline mineral water. You should drink one glass of water in the morning, and drink two or three more throughout the day. This water can be used for brewing tea or coffee and cooking. But you should not take medications with it, as it can reduce their effectiveness.

How to be treated

If the analysis reveals high acidity or alkalization of the blood, then first of all the reasons that caused the deviation are found out. After this, the doctor takes measures aimed at eliminating these causes, for example, prescribing therapy for diabetes mellitus and diarrhea. Injections are also prescribed to normalize acidity.

If the patient managed to normalize the acid-base balance with the help of a diet, one should not forget that abandoning it and switching to a normal diet will bring the pH value to the previous level.

The main prevention that maintains balance is a moderately active lifestyle, a proper diet (separate meals are preferable), drinking enough liquid, giving up bad habits (alcohol, smoking).

pH (acidity) of blood: what is it, the norm in a blood test, how is it regulated, when it changes

Typically, an indicator such as pH or blood acidity (hydrogen indicator, acid-base balance parameter, pH), as patients are accustomed to calling it, is not noted in the referral for hematological tests to examine the patient. Being a constant value, the pH of human blood can change its values ​​only within strictly designated limits - from 7.36 to 7.44 (on average - 7.4). Increased blood acidity (acidosis) or a shift in pH to the alkaline side (alkalosis) are conditions that do not develop as a result of exposure to favorable factors and in most cases require immediate therapeutic measures.

Blood cannot withstand a pH drop below 7 and a rise to 7.8, so extreme pH values ​​such as 6.8 or 7.8 are considered unacceptable and incompatible with life. In some sources, the high limit of compatibility with life may differ from the listed values, that is, equal to 8.0.

Blood buffer systems

A person’s blood constantly receives products of an acidic or basic nature, but for some reason nothing happens? It turns out that everything is provided for in the body; buffer systems are “on duty” around the clock to guard the constancy of pH, which resist any changes and do not allow the acid-base balance to shift in a dangerous direction. So, in order:

• The bicarbonate system opens the list of buffer systems; it is also called the hydrocarbonate system. It is considered the most powerful, since it takes on a little more than 50% of all blood buffering abilities;
• The second place is taken by the hemoglobin buffer system, it provides 35% of the total buffer capacity;
• The third place belongs to the buffer system of blood proteins - up to 10%;
• In fourth position is the phosphate system, which accounts for about 6% of all buffering capabilities.

These buffer systems, in maintaining a constant pH, are the first to resist a possible shift in the pH value in one direction or another, because the processes that support the vital activity of the body are ongoing, and at the same time, products of either an acidic or basic nature are constantly released into the blood. Meanwhile, for some reason the buffer capacity is not depleted. This happens because the excretory system (lungs, kidneys) comes to the rescue, which reflexively turns on whenever there is a need - it removes all the accumulated metabolites.

How do the systems work?

Main buffer system

The activity of the bicarbonate buffer system, which includes two components (H2CO3 and NaHCO3), is based on the reaction between them and bases or acids entering the blood. If there is a strong alkali in the blood, then the reaction will follow this path:

NaOH + H2CO3 → NaHCO3 + H2O

The sodium bicarbonate formed as a result of the interaction does not stay in the body for a long time and, without having any special effect, is removed by the kidneys.

The second component of the bicarbonate buffer system, NaHCO3, will react to the presence of a strong acid and neutralize the acid as follows:

HCl + NaHCO3 → NaCl + H2CO3

The product of this reaction (CO2) will quickly leave the body through the lungs.

The hydrocarbonate buffer system is the first to “feel” a change in the pH value, so it is the first to begin its work.

Hemoglobin and other buffer systems

When bases arrive from the hemoglobin buffer system, the following reaction can be expected:

NaOH + HHb → NaHb + H2O (pH remains almost unchanged)

And with acid, as soon as it appears, hemoglobin will begin to interact as follows:

HCl + NaHb → NaCl + HHb (pH shift is not very noticeable)

The buffering capacity of proteins depends on their basic characteristics (concentration, structure, etc.), therefore the buffer system of blood proteins is not as involved in maintaining acid-base balance as the previous two.

The phosphate buffer system or sodium phosphate buffer does not produce a special shift in the blood pH value. It maintains pH values ​​at the proper level in the fluids that fill the cells and in the urine.

pH in arterial and venous blood, plasma and serum

Is the main parameter of acid-base balance - pH in arterial and venous blood - somewhat different? Arterial blood is more stable in terms of acidity. But, in principle, the pH norm in oxygenated arterial blood is 0.01 - 0.02 higher than in blood flowing through the veins (pH in venous blood is lower due to excess CO2 content).

As for the pH of blood plasma, then, again, in plasma the balance of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, in general, corresponds to the pH of whole blood.

pH values ​​may vary in other biological media, for example, in serum, but plasma that has left the body and is deprived of fibrinogen is no longer involved in maintaining vital processes, so its acidity is more important for other purposes, for example, for the production of sets of standard hemagglutinating serums, which determine a person's group affiliation.

Acidosis and alkalosis

A shift in pH values ​​in one direction or another (acid → acidosis, alkaline → alkalosis) can be compensated or uncompensated. It is determined by the alkaline reserve, represented mainly by bicarbonates. Alkaline reserve (ALR) is the amount of carbon dioxide in milliliters displaced by a strong acid from 100 ml of plasma. The norm of SH is within the range of 50 – 70 ml of CO2. Deviation from these values ​​indicates uncompensated acidosis (less than 45 ml CO2) or alkalosis (more than 70 ml CO2).

There are the following types of acidosis and alkalosis:

• Gas acidosis - develops when the removal of carbon dioxide from the lungs slows down, creating a state of hypercapnia;
• Non-gas acidosis – is caused by the accumulation of metabolic products or their entry from the gastrointestinal tract (alimentary acidosis);
• Primary renal acidosis is a violation of reabsorption in the renal tubules with the loss of a large amount of alkalis.

• Gas alkalosis – occurs with increased release of CO2 by the lungs (altitude sickness, hyperventilation), forms a state of hypocapnia;
• Non-gas alkalosis - develops with an increase in alkaline reserves due to the intake of bases from food (nutritional) or due to changes in metabolism (metabolic).

Of course, it will most likely not be possible to restore the acid-base balance in acute conditions on your own, but at other times, when the pH is almost at the limit, and the person does not seem to be in any pain, all responsibility falls on the patient himself.

Products that are considered harmful, as well as cigarettes and alcohol, are usually the main cause of changes in blood acidity, although a person does not know about it unless it comes to acute pathological conditions.

You can lower or increase the pH of the blood with the help of diet, but we should not forget: as soon as a person switches to his favorite lifestyle again, the pH values ​​will return to their previous levels.

Thus, maintaining the acid-base balance requires constant work on oneself, recreational activities, a balanced diet and proper regimen, otherwise all short-term work will be in vain.

How to determine blood pH. Human blood pH: normal and abnormalities

Blood is the most important internal environment of the human body; it is formed by liquid connective tissue. From biology lessons, many remember that blood contains plasma and elements such as leukocytes, platelets and erythrocytes. It constantly circulates through the vessels, without stopping for a minute and thereby supplying oxygen to all organs and tissues. It has the ability to renew itself very quickly due to the destruction of old cells and instantly form new ones. You will learn about what pH and blood acidity indicators are, their normality and effect on the body’s condition, as well as how to measure blood pH and regulate it by adjusting your diet in our article.

Blood functions

• Nutritious. Blood supplies all parts of the body with oxygen, hormones, and enzymes, which ensures the full functioning of the entire body.
• Respiratory. Thanks to blood circulation, oxygen moves from the lungs to the tissues, and carbon dioxide from the cells, on the contrary, to the lungs.
• Regulatory. It is with the help of blood that the flow of nutrients into the body is regulated, the required temperature level is maintained and the amount of hormones is controlled.
• Homeostatic. This function determines the internal tension and balance of the body.

A little history

So, why is it necessary to study the pH of human blood or, as it is also called, blood acidity? The answer is simple: this is an incredibly necessary value that is stable. It forms the required course of redox processes in the human body, the activity of its enzymes, and, in addition, the intensity of all metabolic processes. The acid-base level of any type of liquid (including blood) is influenced by the number of active hydrogen particles contained therein. You can conduct an experiment and determine the pH of each liquid, but in our article we are talking about the pH of human blood.

The term “hydrogen index” first appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and was formulated in the same way as the pH scale by a physicist from Denmark, Søren Peter Lauritz Servisen. The system he introduced for determining the acidity of liquids had divisions from 0 to 14 units. A neutral reaction corresponds to a value of 7.0. If the pH of any liquid is less than the specified value, it means that there is a deviation towards “acidity”, and if it is more – towards “alkalinity”. The stability of the acid-base balance in the human body is maintained by so-called buffer systems - liquids that ensure the stability of hydrogen ions, maintaining them in the required quantity. And physiological compensation mechanisms help them in this - the result of the work of the liver, kidneys and lungs. Together they make sure that the pH value of the blood remains within normal limits, this is the only way the body will function smoothly, without failures. The lungs have the greatest influence on this process, because they produce a huge amount of acidic products (they are excreted in the form of carbon dioxide), and also maintain the functionality of all systems and organs. The kidneys bind and form hydrogen particles, and then return sodium ions and bicarbonate to the blood, and the liver processes and eliminates specific acids that our body no longer needs. We must not forget about the activity of the digestive organs, they also contribute to maintaining the level of acid-base constancy. And this contribution is incredibly huge: the above organs produce digestive juices (for example, gastric juices), which enter into an alkaline or acidic reaction.

Video on the topic

How to determine blood pH?

Blood acidity is measured using the electrometric method; for this purpose, a specific electrode made of glass is used, which determines the number of hydrogen ions. The result is influenced by the carbon dioxide contained in the blood cells. Blood pH can be determined in a laboratory. You will only need to submit the material for analysis, and you will only need arterial or capillary blood (from your finger). Moreover, arterial blood gives the most reliable results, because its acid-base values ​​are the most constant.

How to find out the pH of your own blood at home?

Of course, the most acceptable way would still be to go to the nearest clinic for testing. Moreover, after that the doctor will be able to give an adequate interpretation of the results and appropriate recommendations. But today, many devices are produced that will give an accurate answer to the question of how to determine blood pH at home. The thinnest needle instantly pierces the skin and collects a small amount of material, and the microcomputer located in the device immediately makes all the necessary calculations and displays the result on the screen. Everything happens quickly and painlessly. You can purchase such a device at a specialized medical equipment store. Large pharmacy chains can also supply this device to order.

Indicators of human blood acidity: normal, as well as deviations

Normal blood pH is 7.35 - 7.45 units, these are the indicators of a healthy person, indicating that you have a slightly alkaline reaction. If this indicator is reduced and the pH is below 7.35, then the doctor diagnoses “acidosis.” And if the indicators are higher than the norm, then we are talking about a change in the norm in the alkaline direction, this is called alkalosis (when the indicator is higher than 7.45). A person must take the pH level in his body seriously, since deviations of more than 0.4 units (less than 7.0 and more than 7.8) are considered incompatible with life.

Acidosis

If laboratory tests reveal acidosis in a patient, this may be an indicator of the presence of diabetes mellitus, oxygen starvation or a state of shock, or associated with the initial stage of even more serious diseases. Mild acidosis is asymptomatic and can only be detected in a laboratory by measuring the pH of your blood. A severe form of this disease is accompanied by rapid breathing, nausea and vomiting. In case of acidosis, when the acidity level of the body drops below 7.35 (normal blood pH is 7.35-7.45), it is necessary to first eliminate the cause of this deviation, and at the same time the patient needs to drink plenty of fluids and take soda orally as a solution. In addition, in this case, it is necessary to see a specialist - a therapist or an emergency doctor.

Alkalosis

The cause of metabolic alkalosis can be incessant vomiting (often occurs with poisoning), which is accompanied by a significant loss of acid and gastric juice, or eating a large amount of foods that cause an oversaturation of the body with alkali (plant products, dairy products). There is such a type of increased acid-base balance as “respiratory alkalosis.” It can appear even in a completely healthy and strong person with too much nervous stress, overstrain, as well as in patients prone to obesity, or shortness of breath in people prone to cardiovascular diseases. Treatment of alkalosis (as in the case of acidosis) begins with eliminating the cause of this phenomenon. Also, if it is necessary to restore the pH level of a person’s blood, this can be achieved by inhaling mixtures that contain carbon dioxide. Solutions of potassium, ammonium, calcium and insulin will also be required for restoration. But in no case should you self-medicate; all manipulations are carried out under the supervision of specialists; often the patient requires hospitalization. All necessary procedures are prescribed by a general practitioner.

What foods increase blood acidity?

To keep your blood pH under control (the norm is 7.35-7.45), you need to eat right and know which foods increase acidity and which increase alkalinity in the body. Foods that increase acidity include:

• meat and meat products;
• fish;
• eggs;
• sugar;
• beer;
• fermented milk products and bakery products;
• pasta;
• sweet carbonated drinks;
• alcohol;
• cigarettes;
• salt;
• sweeteners;
• antibiotics;
• almost all varieties of cereals;
• most legumes;
• classic vinegar;
• seafood.

What happens if the acidity of the blood is increased?

If a person’s diet constantly includes the above products, then this will ultimately lead to decreased immunity, gastritis and pancreatitis. Such a person often catches colds and infections because the body is weakened. An excessive amount of acid in the male body leads to impotence and infertility, since sperm require an alkaline environment to be active, and an acidic environment destroys them. Increased acidity in a woman’s body also negatively affects reproductive function, because when the acidity of the vagina increases, sperm entering it die before they can reach the uterus. This is why it is so important to maintain a constant pH level of human blood within the established norms.

Foods that make your blood alkaline

The following foods increase the level of alkalinity in the human body:

If a person consumes too much animal fat, coffee, alcohol and sweets, then “overoxidation” occurs in the body, which means the predominance of an acidic environment over an alkaline one. Smoking and constant stress also negatively affect blood pH. Moreover, acidic metabolic products are not completely removed, but settle in the form of salts in the intercellular fluid and joints, becoming the causes of many diseases. To replenish the acid-base balance, health-improving and cleansing procedures and a healthy, balanced diet are required.

Foods that Balance pH

To normalize the amount of alkali in the body and bring the pH of the blood plasma back to normal, most doctors advise drinking alkaline water: enriched with ions, it is completely absorbed by the body and establishes a balance of acid and alkali in it. Among other things, such water strengthens the immune system, helps eliminate toxins, slows down the aging process and has a beneficial effect on the stomach. Therapists advise drinking 1 glass of alkaline water in the morning, and another 2-3 glasses throughout the day. After this amount, the blood condition improves. However, it is not advisable to take medications with such water, since it reduces the effectiveness of some medications. If you are taking medications, leave at least one hour between them and taking alkaline water. This ionized water can be drunk in its pure form, or you can use it for cooking, cook soups and broths with it, and use it for brewing tea, coffee and compotes. The pH level in such water is normal.

How to Normalize Blood pH with Alkaline Water

This water helps not only improve your health, but also preserve your youth and blooming appearance longer. Drinking this liquid daily helps the body deal with acidic waste and dissolve it faster, after which it is removed from the body. And since the accumulation of salts and acids negatively affects the general condition and well-being, getting rid of these reserves gives a person strength, energy and a charge of good mood. Gradually, it removes unnecessary substances from the body and thereby leaves in it only what is really necessary for all organs to function properly. Just as alkaline soap is used to remove unwanted germs, alkaline water is used to remove all unnecessary germs from the body. From our article you learned everything about the acid-base balance of the blood in particular and the whole body in general. We told you about the functions of blood, how to find out the pH of the blood in the laboratory and at home, about the norms of acid and alkali in the blood, as well as about the deviations that are associated with this. You also now have at your fingertips a list of foods that increase the alkalinity or acidity of your blood. This way, you can plan your diet in such a way that you not only eat a balanced diet, but at the same time maintain the required blood pH level.

Methods for determining stomach acidity

Many people wonder how to determine stomach acidity when symptoms of dysfunction and gastrointestinal disorders appear.

It is this indicator that is the guideline for prescribing treatment.

Gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, which the body needs to digest food and protect against harmful microorganisms. An imbalance in the direction of increasing or decreasing the indicator leads to an inflammatory process in the stomach and intestines, which is fraught with gastritis, ulcers, decreased immunity and other problems.

The level can be determined both at home and in the laboratory.

Causes and dangers of changes in the acidic environment

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle help maintain the ideal functioning of the body for many years. The acidity level can be changed by:

• Having bad habits: drinking alcohol, smoking.
• Unhealthy diet, consumption of spicy, fatty, salty, smoked and fried foods.
• Moral fatigue, stress.
• Regular lack of sleep.
• Taking certain medications.
• Lack of vitamins.

Increased acidity leads to damage and thinning of the mucous membranes, which causes gastritis and ulcers. A decrease in this indicator affects the quality of food digestion, microflora and absorption of nutrients are disrupted.

When the immune system suffers due to insufficient disinfection, harmful bacteria, for example, Helicobacter Pylori, begin to spread in the body. The latter can cause erosion, gastritis, and peptic ulcers.

Normal acidity level

If the indicator is violated, the general well-being and performance of the patient changes. In medicine, it is customary to distinguish 2 types of acidity:

1. Stimulated. It indicates the amount of acid released during the work of the stomach and when using a number of drugs.
2. Basal. Shows the level of acid produced when a person is hungry, that is, during the time range of inactivity of the stomach.

Plain water has a neutral value (pH = 7.0). In this case, plasma pH = 7.35-7.5. The higher the pH value in gastric juice, the lower the acidity of the patient’s stomach.

When measuring pH, it is important to take the test on an empty stomach. At the same time, the norm of acidity on the mucous membranes and in the lumen of the body of the stomach does not reach 2 units.

• In a healthy person, the pH of juice varies from 1 to 2.
• If the hydrogen level exceeds 4.0, then this indicates a decrease in acidity.
• In the antrum, the normal value is 1.5-7.5. The limit limits are 0.9 and 8.5.

How to find out your acidity level

Determining the acidity of gastric juice can be done in several ways:

1. Using probing.
2. Using acidotest.
3. Taking blood tests.
4. Using litmus paper.
5. Observing the body's reaction after eating certain foods.

Probing

For instrumental examination, a thin and thick probe is used. The first is needed to assess the activity of secretion and determine the level of acidity of the digestive organs. It is more informative, and the result is beyond doubt.

A thicker instrument gives an idea of ​​the quality of digestion of incoming food. For dinner, the patient should eat rice or buckwheat with raisins. Due to the individual characteristics of the patient’s body, such a study may give false readings.

Carrying out an acid test

After emptying the bladder, the patient must take a special medicine. Urine is collected an hour after consuming the drug, then the patient drinks the prepared pill. Repeated urine donation occurs after another 1.5 hours.

The test material is compared by the color of urine with a colorimetric scale. This method allows you to determine acidity without gastroscopy, but has a high probability of error, so its use is quite rare in modern medicine.

Determination of the level of indicator in the blood

To find out acidity from a blood test, a test is performed for biochemistry, the amount of pepsinogen, serum gastrin, antibodies to Helicobacter pylori, and the presence of urea nitrogen residues.

Using litmus strips

This method helps to quickly determine whether the patient’s stomach has high or low acidity. To use a litmus strip, it is placed on the tongue, which triggers a chemical reaction. The resulting color is compared with a sample of the existing palette.

Low acidity is reflected in a bright blue color. The fact that the indicator is increased is indicated by shades of red. The study is carried out on an empty stomach, for at least 5 days in a row. Test strips for this can be purchased at the pharmacy chain.

The influence of food on acidity

You can independently determine this indicator by observing your body’s reaction to certain foods:

• Lemon. People with low acidity can consume this fruit like a regular apple. For those with a reading above normal, lemon is very sour, they feel uncomfortable even thinking about it or looking at it.
• Apple juice. Its use must be done on an empty stomach, observing the body's reaction. Pain and discomfort in the abdominal area indicate increased acidity. If the patient constantly wants to eat something sour, this means that the indicator is below normal.
• Millet. Porridge is prepared from this cereal and consumed with the addition of butter. If heartburn appears after some time, this is a clear sign of an increase in the indicator.
• Soda. Half a teaspoon of the product is diluted in 150 ml of water and drunk on an empty stomach. If there is no belching, this indicates low acidity.

Such detection methods help the patient to know that there is a problem. But in order to carry out the correct treatment, it is necessary to confirm the test results in a medical facility.

Symptoms of high acidity

To determine the acidity of the internal environment yourself, it is enough to observe the characteristic signs. When the permissible norm increases, the patient is concerned about:

• Heartburn, which is provoked by almost every meal.
• Presence of a metallic taste in the mouth.
• Belching of air, especially in the first minutes after eating.
• Aching pain in the stomach area.
• Bloating, heaviness and squeezing sensations in the abdominal area.
• Abnormal bowel movements, mainly constipation.

If treatment is not carried out in a timely manner, then a secondary symptom gradually appears, indicating further development of the pathological process:

• Lack of appetite.
• Constant discomfort and pain in the stomach area.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• The tongue is coated with a yellow or grayish coating.
• Deterioration of the patient's general condition: weakness, apathy.

Causes of increased acidity

Changes towards an increase in the indicator occur when:

• Failure to comply with proper nutrition and eating patterns.
• Having bad habits: smoking, drinking alcohol.
• Taking certain medications for a long time. Dangerous drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal medications.
• Frequent stress.

How can you reduce acidity?

In order for hydrochloric acid to be produced in the correct amount, it is necessary to normalize your diet and start taking medications to reduce its level. Fatty, fried, salty, sour and spicy foods are excluded from the diet. Carbonated drinks, coffee, strong tea, citrus fruits, chocolate, confectionery and sweet products are prohibited.

Eating food should be done at least 6 times a day, in fractions. Evening snacks are harmful to the body. When preparing food, preference is given to steamed, boiled and stewed foods. The food temperature should be optimally warm. At first, the patient is advised to grind food thoroughly and then chew it well.

It is preferable to introduce lean meat into the diet; rabbit, chicken, and turkey are suitable. It is better to cook porridge with milk; rice, buckwheat, oatmeal, and semolina are suitable for this. You can make cottage cheese, cheese, kefir from fermented milk, but these products should be low in fat. Yesterday's bread is suitable. It is better to refuse the loaf. Eggs must be soft-boiled.

Of the traditional methods, fresh juice from raw potatoes is considered the most effective. It must be taken one minute before meals three times a day. In order for the patient's condition to improve, the course of treatment must continue for at least one month.

Drug treatment includes taking:

• Antacids, because they create conditions for neutralizing hydrochloric acid. The most popular are Maalox, Gaviscon and Almagel.
• Antisecretory drugs such as Gastrozol, Omeprazole, Omez.
• Proton pump inhibitors (these are Nolpaza, Pantoprazole).

For peptic ulcers, De-Nol and Bismofalk are used.

Signs of a decrease in the indicator

Some symptoms, on the contrary, indicate low acidity:

• Belching with a pungent odor reminiscent of rotten eggs.
• Presence of nausea, lack of appetite.
• Bloating of the abdomen with constant rumbling inside.
• Discomfort after eating, heaviness, pain, flatulence.
• Defecation disorder.

Secondary signs of the disease, when digestion is disrupted due to decreased acidity, include:

• Dry skin, acne.
• Weight loss.
• Brittle nails and hair.
• The appearance of anemia, vitamin deficiency.
• Decreased immune strength of the body.
• Increased fatigue.
• A sharp decrease in hemoglobin.

Reasons for decreased acidity

Having determined what the environment of the stomach is, it is necessary to identify the cause of complications, since improper treatment can aggravate the patient’s condition. The main factor causing a decrease in acidity is the presence of pathology of internal organs.

For example, this condition occurs with gastritis, ulcers, stomach cancer, gastroduodenitis, and pancreatic islet cell tumors. This disrupts the functioning of the glands that are responsible for the level of hydrochloric acid secretion.

Laboratory methods in the clinic can identify the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which can also provoke a decrease in the indicator. Often the cause of the disease is a malfunction of the thyroid gland, which leads to metabolic disorders.

Methods for increasing acidity

When tests show a decrease in the indicator, it is necessary to take enzymes and HCl preparations. Natural gastric juice of animal origin is drunk during meals, 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day. To start the process of bile secretion, doctors prescribe 20 drops of wormwood tincture half an hour before meals.

Oraza, Festal, Creon, Pangrol, Mezim are taken as enzymes. It is recommended to drink vitamin complexes, for example, Kalcemin, to restore the balance of nutrients.

The menu should include fermented milk products, ginger root and foods containing vitamin C. To replenish zinc, it is useful to eat pumpkin seeds, legumes, potatoes, cheeses, breads, and cereals.

From folk recipes, you can take a rosehip decoction, take lemon juice half an hour before eating or 1 tbsp. spoons of apple cider vinegar diluted in water.

The acidity level can be determined independently or in a clinic by contacting a gastroenterologist. It is very important to do this in a timely manner, since both an increase and a decrease in the indicator are equally harmful to the body. When the number is higher than normal, damage to the mucous membranes occurs, which is fraught with ulcers.

When levels are low, immunity is weakened and the risk of infection increases. In addition, the digestion process is disrupted and the body does not receive the necessary vitamins. The best way to determine acidity is probing.

Any biological fluids of the human body, be it saliva, lymph, urine, as well as the most important medium - blood, are characterized by an indicator of acid-base balance.

Power Hydrogen, or, in short, pH is translated as “the power of hydrogen” and is commonly referred to by doctors as the “hydrogen index”; it means the ratio of acidic and alkaline elements in a liquid.

Blood pH has a huge impact on the condition of all organs and systems of the body, so knowledge of the limits of its norm, methods of measurement and methods of regulation is an integral element for everyone who is responsible for their health.

The main thing about blood

Blood is a liquid connective tissue consisting of two fractions in a certain ratio - plasma and formed elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and others).

The ratios of these fractions are constantly changing, just as blood cells are constantly being renewed, which die, being excreted from the body by the excretory system, and give way to new ones.

The movement of blood through the vessels is controlled by heart rhythms and does not stop for a second, since it delivers vital oxygen and nutrients to all organs and tissues.

There are several main functions of blood:

• Respiratory, ensuring the delivery of oxygen from the lungs to all organs, and the evacuation of carbon dioxide along the return path from the cells to the pulmonary alveoli;
• Nutritious, organizing the delivery of nutrients (hormones, enzymes, structural and microelements, etc.) to all systems of the body;
• Regulatory, ensuring the communication of hormones between organs;
• Mechanical, forming turgor tension of organs due to blood flowing to them;
• excretory, ensuring the transportation of waste substances to the excretory organs - kidneys and lungs, for their further evacuation;
• Thermostatic, maintaining optimal body temperature for organ function;
• Protective, providing a barrier to cells from foreign agents;

The pH of the blood determines the quality of the homeostatic function that regulates the acid-base balance and water-electrolyte balance of the body.

pH: what is it?

The concept of pH was first formulated in Denmark at the beginning of the 20th century. Physicists introduced the concept of the degree of acidity of a liquid, defining it on a scale from 0 to 14. For each human liquid environment there is its own optimal pH, including blood.

A value of 7 on this scale indicates a neutral environment, values ​​less than this indicate an acidic environment, and higher values ​​indicate an alkaline environment. What makes an environment acidic or alkaline is the concentration of active hydrogen particles in it, which is why this indicator is also called hydrogen.

The blood hydrogen index, if a person has normal metabolism, is stably within certain limits. In other cases, the balance of the body's systems is disrupted, which provokes health problems.

To keep the pH value stable, the body operates special buffer systems - liquids that ensure the correct concentration of hydrogen ions.

They do this with the help of the liver, lungs and kidneys, which, with the products of their activity, regulate the physiological mechanisms of compensation: they increase the pH concentration or dilute it.

The body can function smoothly and smoothly only if the acid-base reaction of the most important body fluid is normal.

The main role in this interaction belongs to the lungs, since it is their structures that produce the overwhelming amount of acidic products, which are excreted from the outside in the form of carbon dioxide and affect the functioning of the entire organism.

The kidneys play the role of binding and producing hydrogen particles when the released sodium ions and bicarbonate are returned to the blood.

The liver utilizes unnecessary acids entering it from the body, which forces the acid-base balance to move towards alkalization.

Alkaline balance of different liquids

The level of pH constancy also depends on the digestive organs, which also do not stand aside, but actively influence the level of acidity by producing a huge amount of digestive juices that change the pH level.

• Negative factors affecting pH levels are:
• Bad ecology;
• Bad habits;
• Unbalanced diet;
• Psycho-emotional stress;

Violations of the work and rest regime.

pH norm and deviations

If a person is healthy, then his pH remains stable within the range of 7.35-7.45 units. The values ​​of this interval indicate a slightly alkaline blood reaction.

• You should know that the indicator norms for venous and arterial blood are different:
• Venous blood: 7.32-7.42.

Only with such values, the lungs, excretory, digestive and other systems work harmoniously, removing unnecessary substances from the body, including acids and bases, thereby maintaining healthy acidity in the blood.

If increased or decreased acidity is detected, the doctor has the right to suspect the presence of chronic diseases, since they reflect serious disturbances in the functioning of the body.

A decrease in the value below 7.35 indicates a condition such as “acidosis”, and with pH values ​​​​of more than 7.45 a diagnosis of “alkalosis” is made.

At the same time, a person experiences various negative health changes, changes in appearance occur, and chronic diseases appear. Indicators above 7.8 and below 7.0 are considered incompatible with life.

In case of deviations from the norm, you can first identify problems in the organs most responsible for the acid-base balance:

• Gastrointestinal tract;
• Lungs;
• Liver;
• Kidneys.

Acid-base balance of different products

Blood pH test

When diagnosing many disorders, it will be necessary to determine the level of blood acidity. In this case, the doctor must determine the hydrogen ion content and total acidity by drawing arterial blood.

Arterial blood is purer than venous blood, and the ratio of plasma and cellular structures in it is more constant, so studying it rather than venous blood is more preferable.

An analysis for the level of acidity is carried out by taking blood from the capillaries of the finger, that is, outside the body (in vitro). Subsequently, it is placed in glass pH electrodes and measurements are carried out electrometrically, counting hydrogen and carbon dioxide ions per unit volume of blood.

The interpretation of the values ​​is carried out by the attending physician, who, when making a verdict, must rely on data from other diagnostic studies.

In the vast majority of cases, a value of 7.4 indicates a slightly alkaline reaction and indicates normal acidity.

Based on the digital values, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• If the indicator is 7.4, this indicates a slightly alkaline reaction and that acidity is normal.
• If the pH level is elevated (greater than 7.45) indicates that alkaline substances (bases) have accumulated in the body and the organs responsible for their evacuation cannot cope with this task.
• If the pH is found to be below the lower normal limit, then this indicates acidification of the body, that is, acid is produced either more than necessary, or buffer systems cannot neutralize its excess.

Both alkalization and acidification, which persist for a long time, do not go unnoticed for the body.

Alkalosis

The causes of metabolic alkalosis, in which the body is oversaturated with alkali, are:

• Intense vomiting, in which a lot of acid and gastric juice are lost;
• Oversaturation of the body with certain plant or dairy products, leading to alkalization;
• Nervous stress, overstrain;
• Overweight;
• Cardiovascular diseases occurring with shortness of breath.

Alkalosis is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Decreased digestion of food, feeling of heaviness in the stomach;
• The phenomena of toxicosis, since substances are poorly absorbed and remain in the blood;
• Skin manifestations of an allergic nature;
• Deterioration of liver and kidney function;
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases.

During treatment, elimination of the causes of alkalization is indicated. Inhaling mixtures containing carbon dioxide will help normalize acidity.

Solutions of ammonium, calcium, potassium, and insulin, prescribed by a doctor in a therapeutic dosage, are also effective for normalizing pH. This treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a physician in a hospital setting.

Acidosis

Acidosis is a more common manifestation of metabolic disorders than alkalosis - the human body is more resistant to alkalization than to acidification.

Its mild form is usually asymptomatic and is detected incidentally with accompanying blood tests.

In case of a serious form of the disease, the following symptoms appear:

• Increased breathing;
• Nausea;
• Vomit;
• Fast fatiguability;
• Heartburn.

When there is a high level of acidity in the body, organs and tissues experience a deficiency of nutrition and oxygen, which leads over time to pathological conditions:

• Malfunctions of the cardiovascular system
• General weakness;
• Urinary system disorders;
• Tumor processes;
• Pain in muscles and joints;
• Obesity;
• Development of diabetes;
• Decreased immunity.

The causes of established acidosis are:

• Diabetes;
• Oxygen starvation;
• Fright or shock, stress;
• Various diseases;
• Alcoholism.

Treatment tactics involve eliminating the causes of blood acidification. In cases of acidosis and the pathology accompanying this condition, the patient needs to drink plenty of fluids and take a soda solution.

Measuring blood pH yourself

The importance of maintaining the acid-base balance for human health has required the medical industry to create portable devices that can be used to measure pH at home.

Such a device for measuring pH, offered in different variations by pharmacies and specialized medical equipment stores, is capable of giving an accurate result with minimal measurement errors.

The manipulation consists of puncturing the surface of the skin with a very thin needle and drawing a small amount of blood.

The electronic device built into the device instantly reacts and displays the result on the display. The procedure is quite simple and painless.

How to increase or decrease acidity through nutrition

With the help of proper nutrition, you can not only diversify the menu and make the diet more balanced, but also use them to maintain the required pH level. Certain foods, during assimilation processes, contribute to increased alkalinity, while when consumed, others, on the contrary, increase acidity.

Foods that increase acidity:

If the diet is oversaturated with these products, then a person will inevitably, over time, begin to experience immune disorders, malfunctions of the digestive system,

Such nutrition leads to failures of the reproductive system in both men and women: for normal synthesis, sperm require an alkaline environment, and when they move through the vagina of a woman with too high acidity, they die.

Foods that help alkalinize the blood:

When a person abuses animal fats, alcohol, coffee, sweets, smokes and is exposed to stress, the body undergoes “acidification.”

The toxins formed in this case are not removed from the body, but settle in the blood, joints, and blood vessels, becoming disease provocateurs. Along with a set of cleansing and therapeutic procedures, doctors advise regularly drinking alkaline mineral water.

A pH value within normal limits is an indispensable condition for the healthy functioning of human organs and systems, since all tissues are extremely sensitive to its fluctuations and prolonged disturbances can lead to the most disastrous consequences.

Every individual who is responsible for their health should check and monitor their acid-base balance on their own from time to time. Video -