Reflecting on the Acid/Base hypothesis around Long Covid

The pathology is usually four steps away from symptoms.

Really interesting interview with Gez Medinger.

During exercise, especially intense or prolonged exercise, your muscles produce energy through a process called glycolysis. Glycolysis breaks down glucose or glycogen stored in the muscles to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of cells. However, when glycolysis occurs without sufficient oxygen availability, it leads to the production of lactate.

Lactate is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism, where glucose is converted to lactate in the absence of oxygen. Contrary to a common misconception, lactate itself is not responsible for muscle soreness or fatigue during exercise. In fact, lactate is quickly metabolized and used as a fuel source by other tissues, including the heart, liver, and skeletal muscles. It is a valuable energy source, especially during intense exercise.

Therefore, what causes the symptoms of fatigue?

Lactate is a weak acid, and the change in pH of active muscle with elevated lactate levels stimulates chemoreceptors to signal to the brain that there is an energy deficit.

Pain protects the muscle by preventing overwork.

Are the symptoms of PEM in Long Covid because of increased lactate or increased sensitivity to acidosis in muscle?

More to come on this soon.