Hyperventilation

• Hyperventilation:

  • exists when the ratio of carbon dioxide production to alveolar ventilation decreases below normal values
  • i.e. excess alveolar ventilation
• Hyperventilation occurs during:

  • Anxiety / fear
  • Metabolic disease
  • Airway obstruction
  • Parenchymal lung disease
  • Altitude
• How does hyperventilation affect pH?

  • Hyperventilation -> increased alveolar excretion of co2
  • leads to decrease of co2 concentration in the alveoli
  • leads to decreases of co2 concentration in the arteriole blood
  • this leads to a decrease of hydrogen ions
  • this causes an increase in pH
  • this leads to respiratory alkalosis