Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!rochester!ur-tut!john
From: john@ur-tut.UUCP (John Gurian)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: TUMS as calcium supplement???
Message-ID: <74@ur-tut.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Mar-86 20:40:19 EST
Article-I.D.: ur-tut.74
Posted: Tue Mar 18 20:40:19 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 21-Mar-86 06:20:28 EST
References: <1087@terak.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: University of Rochester School of Medicine
Lines: 14

> Question:  if you take Tums on a regular basis, aren't you likely to
> suffer from alkalosis?

The acid-base balance of the body is extremely important, as many proteins &
reactions only take place within a narrow pH (normally 7.35-7.45).  As such,
the body tries to maintain this balance, and will do so by adjusting the amount
of bicarb and organic acids excreted by the kidney, and the amt of CO2 (an acid,
actually) in the blood through respiratory rate -> which is why when you
hyperventilate, you get dizzy; you blow off acid and temporarily suffer a
respiratory alkalosis.
-- 

-- John Gurian
-- !{harvard,seismo,topaz}!rochester!ur-tut!john