Lactic Acid (Plasma)

A measure of the amount of lactic acid in the blood at rest. Lactic acid can be chronically elevated with certain impairments in energy metabolism, and thus can give information on where such an impairment is, along with other symptoms and tests. Some classical causes of high lactic acid are poor oxygen delivery to tissues (anemia), stress or infection, as these factors can impair energy production. Liver dysfunction can also create high lactic acid, since the liver clears it out.

Stress can be anything that interrupts the body’s homeostasis. This could be physical, emotional, psychological, infectious, among countless other contributors to systemic stress. Stress manifests through several different hormones, signaling molecules, and other processes that have numerous consequences on health. Stress tends to suppress the immune system, deplete nutrients, disrupt organ function, break down tissue, impair metabolism and ultimately contribute to intlammation and oxidative stress. All of these can result in symptoms, from fatigue and brain fog, to digestive issues, impairments in metabolism, and more. Periodic stress is normal and even healthful, but chronic stress plays a pivotal role in nearly every health issue.