Alkalosis

Symptoms:

• confusion (can progress to stupor or coma)
• muscle twitching
• hand tremor
• prolonged muscle spasms (tetany)
• nausea, vomiting
• numbness or tingling in the face or extremities
• lightheadedness

Signs and tests:

• Tests for pH indicate alkalosis or acidosis.
• Tests for carbon dioxide and bicarbonate levels indicate the cause of alkalosis or acidosis, either respiratory (lung related) or metabolic (kidney related).

Some of these tests include:

• arterial blood gas (or venous blood gas)
• urinalysis
• litmus paper (urine dipstick tests)
• urine pH
• chem-20