When this basic salt is lost from the body it is immediately replaced by carbonic acid formed by the reaction of carbon dioxide with water. Therefore, the net effect is loss of sodium ions and gain of hydrogen ions, causing acidosis. Finally, Figure 179 shows extreme acidosis that sometimes results from severe diabetes mellitus. In diabetes many of the fats normally used by the body for energy are not completely metabolized but instead are broken into substances called keto acids that build up in the body fluids, producing extreme acidosis. Effects of acidosis and alkalosis on bodily functions.
Acidosis generally promotes depressed mental activity culminating in coma and death.
Usually the afflicted person will pass into coma when the pH of his extra- cellular fluid falls below approximately 6.9. On the other hand, alkalosis causes overexcitability of the nervous system, often resulting in excessive initiation of impulses. These can cause tetanic contraction of all the muscles or they can actually kill a person by causing convulsions or other derangements of nervous activity.