Does excessive vomiting cause alkalosis?
People who experience severe bouts of vomiting can get metabolic alkalosis. It’s also common in people who are critically ill or in the hospital for certain conditions. The risk is especially high if you are dehydrated or need your stomach pumped (gastric suctioning).
Why is metabolic alkalosis a potential complication of vomiting?
Loss of stomach acids. This is the most common cause of metabolic alkalosis. It’s usually brought on by vomiting or suction through a nose-feeding tube. The gastric juices have a high content of hydrochloric acid, a strong acid. Its loss causes an increase in the alkalinity of the blood.
How does vomiting affect blood pH?
Expelling the gastric acid contents causes the loss of chloride and hydrogen ions which can lead to hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis, where there are high levels of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide but low levels of chloride, leading to an increased blood pH.
What are the common causes of metabolic alkalosis?
Metabolic alkalosis is primary increase in bicarbonate (HCO 3 −) with or without compensatory increase in carbon dioxide partial pressure (Pco 2); pH may be high or nearly normal. Common causes include prolonged vomiting, hypovolemia, diuretic use, and hypokalemia.
Does vomiting cause hypokalemia?
Gastrointestinal losses, from diarrhea, vomiting, or nasogastric suctioning, also are common causes of hypokalemia. Vomiting leads to hypokalemia via a complex pathogenesis. Gastric fluid itself contains little potassium, approximately 10 mEq/L.
Why does hyperaldosteronism cause metabolic alkalosis?
The associated metabolic alkalosis in primary aldosteronism is due to increased renal hydrogen ion loss mediated by hypokalemia and aldosterone.
Why does hypokalemia cause vomiting?
Vomiting leads to hypokalemia via a complex pathogenesis. Gastric fluid itself contains little potassium, approximately 10 mEq/L. However, vomiting produces volume depletion and metabolic alkalosis, which are accompanied by increased renal potassium excretion.
What does excessive vomiting do to the body?
Excessive vomiting causes the body to lose water quickly. Severe cases of dehydration may need to be treated in the hospital. Injury to the food tube. The stomach acid that comes up with the vomit can damage the tube that connects the mouth and stomach (esophagus).
Why do you get hypokalemia with vomiting?