But these spasms can extend throughout the body, and even into the larynx , or voice box, causing breathing problems. Tetany can be the result of an electrolyte imbalance.
Tetany can also be caused by magnesium deficiency or too little potassium. Having too much acid acidosis or too much alkali alkalosis in the body can also result in tetany. What brings on these imbalances is another matter altogether.
This can lead to dramatically lowered calcium levels, which can trigger tetany. Sometimes kidney failure or problems with the pancreas can interfere with calcium levels in the body. Low blood protein , septic shock , and some blood transfusions can also adversely affect blood calcium levels.
Sometimes toxins can cause tetany. One example is the botulinum toxin found in spoiled foods or bacteria in soil that enter the body through cuts or injuries. Ideally, your doctor will know what caused the tetany, enabling them to treat the condition at its source.
In the short term, treatment goals are to correct the imbalance. This might include supplementing with calcium or magnesium , for example.
Injecting calcium directly into the bloodstream is the most common approach. However, taking calcium orally along with vitamin D , for absorption may be required to prevent it from reoccurring. Once a doctor determines what was at the root of the tetany, they may consider more serious treatments. For instance, if tumors on the parathyroid are to blame, they can be surgically removed. In some cases, such as kidney failure, ongoing treatment with calcium supplements may be required to treat the condition that led to the tetany.
As with most serious conditions, early detection and treatment make the biggest difference when it comes to your outlook regarding tetany. The interrelationship of calcium and acid-base balance necessary for inducing tetany, the role of the central nervous system, and the rate of development of hypocalcemia have been investigated. Tetany occurred in less than 50 percent of one group of dogs made alkalotic by hyperventilation or made hypocalcemic by infusion of ethylene glycol-bis beta-amino ethyl ether N, N'-tetraacetate.
In contrast, hypocalcemia combined with hypocapnic alkalosis always produced tetany. Slowly evolving hypocalcemia was achieved inanother group of dogs by thyroparathyroidectomy, and tetany was induced postoperatively by hypocapnic alkalosis.
Rapid, deep breathing hyperventilation causes too much carbon dioxide to be expelled from the bloodstream. The most common cause of hyperventilation, and thus respiratory alkalosis, is anxiety Overview of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease that is a normal human experience. It is also present in a wide range of psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, Other causes of hyperventilation and consequent respiratory alkalosis include pain, low levels of oxygen in the blood, fever, and aspirin overdose which can also cause metabolic acidosis Acidosis Acidosis is caused by an overproduction of acid that builds up in the blood or an excessive loss of bicarbonate from the blood metabolic acidosis or by a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood Tingling paresthesia is a common complaint in hyperventilation due to anxiety.
Sometimes alkalosis causes no symptoms at all. If the alkalosis is severe, painful muscle spasms tetany can develop. A doctor evaluates a person's acid-base balance by measuring the pH, and levels of carbon dioxide an acid and bicarbonate a base in the blood.
To learn more about the cause of the alkalosis, doctors also measure levels of electrolytes in samples of blood and urine. In respiratory alkalosis, giving oxygen if necessary or providing calming reassurance to a person who is hyperventilating due to anxiety. Almost always, treatment of alkalosis is directed at reversing the cause.
Doctors rarely simply give acid, such as hydrochloric acid, to reverse the alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is usually treated by replacing water and electrolytes sodium and potassium while treating the cause. Rarely, when metabolic alkalosis is very severe, dilute acid is given intravenously. In respiratory alkalosis, the first step is to ensure that the person has enough oxygen.
The doctor then looks for a serious cause, such as an infection. If pain is causing the person to breathe rapidly, relieving the pain usually suffices.
When respiratory alkalosis is caused by anxiety or a panic attack, a conscious effort to relax and slow breathing may make the condition disappear. Calming reassurance and emotional support can help, and breathing into a paper not a plastic bag may help raise the carbon dioxide level in the blood as the person breathes carbon dioxide back in after breathing it out.
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