acidose

acidose

A patient is being treated for acidose in the hospital.

Definition

Noun (Medical term): "Acidose" refers to an abnormal increase in the acidity of the blood and body tissues, typically resulting from an accumulation of acids or a loss of bicarbonate. It is a pathological condition often associated with metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes, kidney failure) or respiratory issues.

Usage Examples
  • (A condition where the blood becomes too acidic because of metabolic dysfunction.)
  • (The accumulation of acid in the body causes serious symptoms.)
  • (A medical test to identify abnormal acidity.)
Advanced Usage
  • "Respiratory acidose": a subtype caused by impaired lung function, leading to carbon dioxide retention.

    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can result in respiratory acidose. (Lung disease prevents proper exhalation of CO₂, increasing blood acidity.)
  • "Metabolic acidose": a subtype caused by increased acid production or bicarbonate loss, often from kidney issues or lactic acidosis.

    • Lactic acidose is a dangerous form of metabolic acidose seen in shock or intense exercise. (A rapid buildup of lactic acid overwhelms the body's buffering system.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Acidosis (noun): The more common spelling of the same medical condition; "acidose" is a variant used in some medical contexts.

    • The term 'acidosis' is widely used in medical literature, while 'acidose' appears less frequently. (Both refer to the same condition of excessive blood acidity.)
  • Acidotic (adjective): Relating to or characterized by acidose.

    • The acidotic state of the patient required immediate treatment with intravenous bicarbonate. (The condition of being in acidose.)
Synonyms
  • Acidemia: a specific increase in blood acidity (often used interchangeably with acidose, though acidemia technically refers to low blood pH alone).

    • Acidemia is a key laboratory finding in acidose. (Low blood pH is a measurable sign.)
  • Hyperacidity: a general term for excessive acidity, though less specific to medical contexts.

    • Hyperacidity in the blood can be caused by a variety of metabolic disorders. (Overly acidic blood condition.)
Related Idioms (Medical Context)
  • "Acid-base imbalance": a broader term that includes both acidose and alkalosis (excessive alkalinity).

    • The doctor corrected the acid-base imbalance with appropriate fluids. (Treating both acidose and related pH disturbances.)
  • "Compensated acidose": a state where the body's buffering systems partially offset the acidity.

    • In compensated acidose, the kidneys work harder to excrete acid. (The body attempts to maintain normal pH despite the underlying problem.)