Lactate level

Was wondering whether anyone could give me some advice (in layman's terms!) I'm not after medical advice.. this is just for my own curiosity.

I have recently come out of hospital and when I was first admitted I think I had quite high lactate (10). The last time I went in my lactate was 5. Can anyone point me in the direction of information about lactate levels? I have no idea what the normal range is or what high/low levels mean.

Any help hugley appreciated.

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I don't have a clue what they are either but i do remember that once when i was quite poorly i had a very increased lactate level (not sure what figure) and the doctors were quite concerned about it and stepped up the treatment, so I'd also be quite interested to see what others had to say.

Sorry i couldn't be of more help!

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A test that measures the amount of lactic acid in the blood. Lactic acid is an intermediate product of carbohydrate metabolism and is derived mainly from muscle cells and red blood cells. Exercise will normally raise lactic acid levels. Conditions of oxygen deprivation (for example shock, heart failure, lung disease) will trigger anaerobic metabolism within muscle tissue resulting in lactic acid build up in the tissues. Normal lactic acid levels are 4.5 to 19.8 mg/dl.

also read this clinlabnavigator.com/Tests/...

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Basically,

dueing an attack you are needing to work hard to breathe and your muslces are working hard. A waste product of your musles working is lactic acid. When Dr's do an abg one of the things they look at is your lactate levels to see how hard you are having to work to get air in and out of your lungs.

So the more ill you are the higher you lactate levels are going to be. But i think they start to srop as you tire as you cant work as hard.

This is what my con told me anyway.

Olive