Ever tried to push yourself a little harder during exercise only your body won’t let you? Your mind is telling you to go, but your body can’t because of a sudden painful weakness. And when you do stop you feel nauseated. Why?
Lactic Acidosis After Exercise
One cause is the build up of lactic acid, aka lactic acidosis. It causes a painful burning sensation that forces you to stop using overworked muscles. Taking a break allows your body to clear excess lactate and other metabolites, which generally takes about an hour. And that muscle soreness you feel the day after has been proven not to be caused by lactic acidosis.
Energy is generated out of glucose through the process of glycolysis. The amount of energy produced depends on the availability of oxygen. The most efficient way for your body delivers energy to muscles is via aerobic means.
During strenuous exertion, like sprinting or lifting heavy weights, working muscle requirement for energy is quick and great. Thus, the supply of oxygen is limited, causing anaerobic energy production. Lactate is a byproduct under a high rate energy demand situation. And this type of energy output can typically only be sustained for a couple of minutes.
Lactic acidosis occurs because lactic acid builds up in your blood stream faster than the liver’s capacity to metabolize and remove it. The key signs this is happening is marked by increased breathing, profound muscle weakness, nausea, abdominal pain and even vomiting.
Other Lactic Acidosis Causes
Although the most common reason for lactic acidosis is intense exercise, it can also be caused in other health related circumstances, such as:
- AIDS
- sepsis
- cancer
- hypothermia
- kidney failure
- severe malaria
- respiratory failure
- impaired liver function
- out of control diabetes
Lactic acidosis can also be caused by Metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes. Even though this adverse reaction is rare, heed all of this drug’s warnings, especially the one regarding the use of alcohol.