The body produces lactic acid throughout its lifetime. It is essential for proper functioning of cells, tissues, and organs. Lactic acid has three primary functions in the body:
- as a significant source of energy for mitochondria
- as a step in making glucose, and
- as a signaling molecule
Previously, doctors believed muscles created lactic acid when oxygen levels were insufficient. However, it has been reported that full aerobic synthesis of lactic acid occurs during normal respiration.
However, lactic acidosis happens when the body makes too much lactic acid and cannot use it or get rid of it fast enough. The condition can happen quickly and can cause serious problems
However, lactic acidosis happens when the body makes too much lactic acid and cannot use it or get rid of it fast enough. The condition can happen quickly and can cause serious problems
- severe infection
- liver damage or disease
- insufficiently controlled diabetes
- heart failure
- kidney disease or failure
- sepsis
- shock
What is lactic acid in muscles?
Lactic acid is a byproduct of glycolysis, one of the metabolic processes your body uses to produce energy when you work out hard. Lactic acid is the name for lactate and hydrogen ions, which are byproducts of this mechanism.
During glycolysis, muscle cells make lactic acid to eliminate the pyruvate that builds up as a byproduct of glycolysis. The hydrogen ion reduces the pH of the muscle tissue while it is still in the muscle cells. It makes the muscle tissue more acidic. This drop in pH, called acidosis, can cause some of the burning feelings in your muscles when you work out hard.
The lactate and hydrogen ions are no longer joined to make lactic acid. Instead, they are found in the body as lactate and hydrogen ions. Most of the time, the lactate is recycled and used as energy, which is very important when you are working out hard.
What causes lactic acid to build up in muscles?
When you do intense exercise, your body breaks down glucose for energy with the help of oxygen. When you work out hard, there may not be enough oxygen to finish the process leading to the formation of lactate. This lactate can be turned into energy by your body without using oxygen. However, this lactate or lactic acid can build up in your blood faster than you can burn it off. The “lactate threshold” indicates the point at which lactic acid starts to build up. There is no role of lactate or lactic acid in sore muscles that is experienced after a workout.
What are the signs and symptoms of lactic acid in muscles?
Some of the signs of lactic acid buildup in muscles are a burning sensation in your musculature, cramps, lacking energy, feeling nauseous, and being exhausted. It is how your body tells you to stop doing what you are doing.
Lactic acidosis is not the cause of the muscle pain you sometimes feel a day or two after a hard workout. It is your muscles getting stronger after a workout.
How should I get rid of lactic acid in muscles?
The Cori Cycle is a process the body uses to turn excess lactate back into energy. It occurs when the body is at rest or doing steady-state exercise. There are too many hydrogen ions in the body, so the blood has several buffers to help keep the pH level from dropping because of the acidity of the hydrogen ions.
We do not have to worry about the buildup of lactic acid. When this waste product of metabolism gets into the bloodstream, the human body is well equipped to deal with it. Multiple methods are available to get rid of lactic acid in muscles. These are resting, reducing exercise intensity, active recovery post-exercise and low-intensity movements, including walking, yoga, or biking.
Conclusion
The lactate and hydrogen ions dissociate in the circulation when the lactic acid is released from the muscle cell. It is not the lactic acid that builds up in the muscles that cause problems. Instead, the buildup of hydrogen ions and lactate in the blood can affect performance.
If too many of these are in the circulation, the blood could become too acidic, which could affect other body parts. When you work out hard, a lot of lactate and hydrogen ions are released into the blood.
