Metabolic Acidosis: Causes, Symptoms & Risk Factors

Metabolic acidosis is caused by an overabundance of acid in the body. This can be due to poorly functioning kidneys, overconsumption of acid-producing foods, drugs, alcohol, loss of bicarbonate through diarrhea or other digestive problems, poorly controlled diabetes, or ingestion of poisons such as ethanol. Metabolic acidosis can be life-threatening.

No Symptoms

• Initially, people with mild metabolic acidosis may have no symptoms.

Nausea and Vomiting

• Mild metabolic acidosis usually causes nausea and can lead to vomiting.

Fatigue and Weakness

• Fatigue and weakness can be signs of mild or more severe acidosis. As the condition worsens, the fatigue can change to severe, debilitating weakness.

Change in Breathing

• The body will try to expel carbon dioxide to rectify the imbalance by causing more rapid and deeper breathing.

Shock, Coma and Death

• As the condition becomes life-threatening, the body will begin to shut down, causing the blood pressure to fall and inducing confusion, coma and eventually, death.