What does the pH of the body tell you? What would a high bodily pH indicate and what would a low bodily pH indicate? (simple answer

Question

pH is an important indicator of bodily health. The pH of blood should lie somewhere between 7.35–7.45. pH indicates the level of hydrogen ions (H+) in a concentration; a neutral solution will have an equal amount of hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxyl ions (OH–), while an acidic (low pH) solution has more hydrogen ions than hydroxyl ions, and a basic (high pH) solution has more hydroxyl than hydrogen ions. pH can also be influenced by the amount of hydronium ions (H3O+) in a solution; too many of these ions and the pH drops, too little and the pH spikes. If the body’s overall pH drops too low, it will enter acidosis, and if the pH peaks too high, the body will enter alkalosis. Both conditions could be due to an imbalance of hydrogen, hydroxyl, or hydronium ion excretion from the kidneys or altered levels of CO2 due to a respiratory condition or the type of incident that might require investigation.

Answer 1

The pH of the body is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of bodily fluids, particularly blood. It indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+).

• A high bodily pH (above 7.45) suggests alkalosis, which can occur due to factors like excessive loss of carbon dioxide (from hyperventilation), excessive intake of alkaline substances, or kidney function issues.

• A low bodily pH (below 7.35) indicates acidosis, which can result from elevated carbon dioxide levels (like in respiratory conditions), increased production of acids in the body (such as from diabetes), or kidney dysfunction.

Both conditions can have significant health implications and require medical attention for diagnosis and treatment.