Final answer:
Hypoventilation leads to respiratory acidosis by retaining carbon dioxide, making the blood overly acidic. It contrasts with respiratory alkalosis, which results from hyperventilation causing a carbonic acid/CO2 deficiency and alkalinity.
Step-by-step explanation:
“Hypoventilation” is a decrease in the rate and depth of respiration, which causes retention of carbon dioxide and acidosis. This condition, known as respiratory acidosis, occurs when the blood becomes overly acidic due to an excess of carbonic acid, caused by increased carbon dioxide in the blood.
Respiratory acidosis can result from any condition that interferes with respiration, such as pneumonia, emphysema, or congestive heart failure. It contrasts with respiratory alkalosis, where there is a carbonic acid/CO₂ deficiency leading to overly alkaline blood, often due to hyperventilation. Hypocapnia, the abnormally low blood levels of CO₂, can occur with hyperventilation due to various reasons, including fever or anxiety.