Answer to Question #3940 in Biochemistry for sharon thomas

Question

Explain why it is life threatening to have a low blood pH

Answer 1

We know that values of blood pH below 6.8 and above 7.8 - not compatible with life.In medicine, metabolic acidosis is a condition that occurs when the body produces
too much acid.
Metabolic acidosis leads to acidemia, i.e., blood pH is low (less than 7.35) due to
increased production of hydrogen by the body or the inability of the body to form
bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the kidney. Together with respiratory acidosis, it is one of
the two general causes of academia (increased hydrogen ion concentration in blood).
Extreme acidemia leads to neurological and cardiac complications:
Neurological: lethargy, stupor, coma, seizures.
Cardiac: arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia), decreased response to epinephrine;
both lead to hypotension (low blood pressure).