Blood pH/CO2 retention

[eyeknow]

There is a very finely balanced threshold either way with pH. However, I think these can change quickly depending on the amount of CO2 retained in the lungs. Forget not that the air we inhale is very polluted and that CO2 is invisible. I know of no test for pH but the GPs can probably get them done.

[punkyb]

I did read about the fine balance. It is sort of like you are damned if you do and damned if you don't, but I like the idea of keeping the sp02 between 88 and 93. My question at this moment is how does this affect exercise when I need oxygen to walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes? I will ponder this. I have an appointment with my specialist in April. I am going to talk about the ph/co2 retention with him. He was bright enough to get an arterial blood gas test on me so he is certain to be somewhat experienced on the topic. I am happy to have found you. You get to the bottom of things I think.

[eyeknow in reply to punkyb]

You need to study the members page on a-new-shape.co.uk as it contains advice about medical fitness that GPs do not talk about.

[punkyb in reply to eyeknow]

I will look into that...it requires membership correct?

[helingmic in reply to punkyb]

punkyb, all consultant and registrar for the chest clinic are trained to take blood gas. I don't say it's routine, but when it needs to be taken, it is. It's a tricky procedure that is best obtained by the patient relaxing as much as possible. In that way, it's the least painful.

Indeed, the oxygen level may change. So be careful not to exert yourself too much. I was on Oxygen in 2010. I did go to the gym and on the static bike. I took it easy and had an oxygen bottle to sustain me. Have you got an oximeter tomeasure your O2 while ou are at the gym? Do watch it, don't go below 90%. Your brain needs a lot of oxygen to function optimally. So only train within the limit 90- 96 % Below 90% it becomes problematic. Hope it helps. Mic.

[punkyb in reply to helingmic]

I had the blood gas done. I do use an oximeter. I was concerned about using oxygen after reading about the ph/o2 balance, but for now, I have to use oxygen when I work outside etc because otherwise my sp02 drops below safe. I did read to keep oxygen between 88 and 94%. Rehab taught us not to go below 88% you say 90% which I am comfortable with.

[helingmic]

eyeknow, air is invisible; all the components are invisible. Now your Ph is absolutely stable and constant. there can be no change in the blood Ph or else you just die!

Our body iis a marvellous machine, it's regulation is, as you say, a fine balance.

It's been said on the internet that for instance, if you take acid or alkaline food, this will alter the blood Ph. Nothing is further from the truth. Our food is digested so as teh blood Ph stays rigourously the same. Your GP can confirm this to you. Keep well. Mic

[eyeknow in reply to helingmic]

I have been aware for nearly 71-years that air is invisible!

I disregard the outpourings of politically controlled GPs too.

[helingmic in reply to eyeknow]

eyeknow, sorry, I don't get this politically outpouring :-). I simply wanted to help with the knowledge I have, neutral, scientific, untainted!

[eyeknow in reply to helingmic]

The knowledge I have is that NHS GPs will not discuss environmental impacts upon health. They do not enquire of their patients whether or not they live at high altitudes in such places as Merthyr Tidfil or Blaenau Gwent in Wales and similar locations in Scotland. They do not enquire as to whether or not their patients have been inhaling poisonous gases from gas cookers. If I were a GP then I would ask such questions in order to get the right blood tests done so as to make an accurate diagnosis of my patient's medical symptoms. The big question is; why do NHS GPs not want to know?

[Kelda]

Oxygen therepy can be a problem if it leads to CO2 retention, which changes the Ph of the blood and disrupts the blood-gas balance. They check this by either taking blood from your ear, or from your artery in your wrist ( which gives a more efficient reading). Unfortunatley Co2 retention can cause headaches and moreover disrupt the acidity of the blood to the point of inducing a coma. The blood becomes acidotic.

However, this can be reversed by wearing a BiPap or CPap mask. I have a tendency to retain CO2 as I am on full time oxygen and so have to wear a BiPap mask for 5 hours a night.

It is a shame there is not a little prick test as in diabetes, so you could check it yourself, as it is hard to get it done otherwise. Whenever I am tested it is at the hospital by special appointment.

I hope it all works out for you. Good luck and stay well,

Kelda

[eyeknow in reply to Kelda]

I have been very concerned about blood pH changing for many years because we humans are not the only species that can suffer from such changes. My concern is that CO2 retention and inhalation are behind mass human sickness and the global decline of bees, hedgehogs, birds and many other species of wildlife. In fact, I believe a change in blood pH is responsible for causing infertility on a grand scale.

[Kelda in reply to eyeknow]

Hi eyeknow, that sounds interesting. Do you have any research for your theory? I would like to learn more about it, especially when you look at the evolutionary records, since Oxygen was originally too poisonous to be used by the cell, carbon dioxide became part of the process to allow oxygen to be utilised safely. It is the balance that is important.

I have not heard of this before and I love to learn, so anything you can send me will be appreciated.

I hope that you are well

Thanks.

Kelda

[eyeknow in reply to Kelda]

I recently saw a post where somebody had said that the pH of blood cannot be changed. However, I think that scientists had made references to the issue long ago so I will see what I can find. There is reference made to pH on a paper about research into chronic fatigue and anorexia. Click on the link below and then look for an icon about CFS and Anorexia. Our air is now full of CO2 so I would argue that air pollution comes into the equation where infertility is concerned.

a-new-shape.co.uk

[punkyb in reply to Kelda]

You sound like you know a lot about the ph balance. I read a little on it and it is what divers get sometimes. I worry about using it when I am working in my yard, but I have to use it or sats get too low. They said I should have it for sleep, but I cannot afford it right now so I don't get it. The thing is I am going to ask my doctor if I can have a sleep test to show I need it atsleep because I have put my oxymeter on my finger at night and fallen asleep to wake in the night and see the count. It seems to stay above 88 when sleeping..