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Show ' HEALTH BY UNCLE SAM, M. D. Health Questions Will Be An-awercd An-awercd If Sent to Information Bureau, IL S. Public Health Serv-Ice, Serv-Ice, Washington, D, C. Q. I would appreciate receiving any Information you may havo regarding re-garding "acidosis." "MRS. H. C. H.." A. Physiologists define "acidosis," or acid Intoxication, as a condition in which the blood ?jid tissues contain an excess of acids, other than carbonic acid. Acidosis in observed In diabetes and similar diseases Jn which thero is a formation and incomplete oxidation of large amounts of organic acids. It is observed In kidney disease. In which tho acids ordinarily formed In digesting digest-ing food are Incompletely eliminated with the rulne. Acidosis Is also observed ob-served after prolonged ether anaesthesia, anaes-thesia, also In early childhood, particularly par-ticularly in infancy, in which a number num-ber of obscure factors are Involved. A mild degree of acidosis may not lead to any perceptible symptoms. The more severe formB are chacterlzcd by disturbances In respiration, and the moat severe form, often In diabetic coma, aro charcterlzcd by extromely labored respiration and "air-hunger." Treatment No uniform treatment la known for combating acidosis, an it Ib essential to know in each case the causa of this abnormal condition before a rational treatment can bo Instituted. In-stituted. A physician should, therefore, there-fore, always be consulted. The treatment treat-ment may bo divided into two types, according to tho etiology of the condition: con-dition: First proper change in diet; and second, administration of alkalies In the form of sodium bicarbonate or magnesia bj mouth, or in critical cases intravclnous injections of a 2 per cent solution of sodium bicarbonate. In diabetes for Instance, the acidosis which Is very froquefrly present Is treated by Increasing the amount of carbohyti-atc In tho diet, as it is known that carbohydrates reduce the formation of organic acids derived from fats. In and intoxication in children, It Is often a question of reducing re-ducing tho fat content Of the diet. In tho milder forms of acid Intoxication of adults, not caused by diabetes, It may be necessary to make a proper , selection of foods which do not leave an acid ash. Roughly speaking all foods may bo divided into two classes foods which leave an alkaline ash and foods which leave an acid ash. As a I rule certain fruits containing citrates leave an alkaline ash, as the citrato after absorption Is oxidized within the body and liberates an equivalent amount of alkali. Certain other fruits! are acid producing. Meat Increases acid formation. In r-onclusion it should be stated that acidosis, per se. Is not a disease, but a symptom of disturbed function. However, acidosis in itself, becomos a danger whon it has reached i a certain degree of Intensity. I oo . I |
