Precautions for metabolic alkali poisoning in the elderly

Symptoms of metabolic alkali poisoning in the elderly include numbness and tingling in the fingers, wrist and foot cramps, and arrhythmias. They may also be accompanied by hand and foot convulsions; polyuria, postural vertigo, and muscle weakness. If not treated in time, it may also lead to confusion and slow reaction, which will seriously affect our physical health, as well as normal life and work. So what should we pay attention to when encountering such a disease?

When faced with such a disease, of course the first thing to do is to seek timely treatment. If it is not treated in time, it will easily lead to worsening of the disease and seriously threaten our life and health, especially the elderly whose body resistance is relatively low, so the disease must not be easily ignored.

1. Treatment

1. The treatment of chloride-sensitive metabolites is mainly based on Cl- supplementation, and the type of drug is selected based on the extracellular fluid volume, heart, liver, kidney function and whether potassium is lost. Normal saline drip is usually used directly. If potassium loss is present, potassium chloride should be supplemented at the same time. If the heart function is poor and the patient cannot tolerate normal saline drip, and the alkali poisoning is severe, 0.1% to 0.2% dilute hydrochloric acid (a large vein must be used) or 2% ammonium chloride can be infused. If the patient has liver disease and cannot tolerate ammonium chloride injection, sodium (potassium) glutamate can be selected. If the patient has severe renal insufficiency, dialysis therapy can be performed.

2. Diet

What foods are good for the elderly with metabolic acidosis: It is best to eat light food, eat more fruits and vegetables, balance the diet reasonably, and pay attention to adequate nutrition. The food should be comprehensive: maintain diversity, do not be picky, eat whole grains, livestock and poultry eggs, milk, aquatic and terrestrial vegetables, dried and fresh fruits, fish, shellfish, shrimp, crab, and delicacies from land and sea, etc.

3. Prevention

When arginine is used, it can cause severe hyperkalemia because the organic cation arginine enters the cells and causes K+ to move in and out of the cells. At the same time, attention should be paid to the occurrence of hyperchloremia.

In fact, in addition to actively receiving treatment for metabolic alkali poisoning in the elderly, they also need to pay attention to their daily diet. It is generally recommended to eat a light diet, check whether there is potassium loss in the heart, liver, and kidney functions, and then supplement some potassium in time, which can serve as a good auxiliary treatment.