Final answer:
Hyperventilation can lead to respiratory alkalosis, which is an acid-base imbalance characterized by a deficiency of carbon dioxide and an increase in blood pH, making the blood more alkaline.
Step-by-step explanation
Hyperventilation may cause a type of acid-base imbalance known as respiratory alkalosis. This condition occurs when there is a deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is a result of increased ventilation rate. The decrease in carbon dioxide levels leads to an increase in blood pH, making the blood more alkaline.
When someone hyperventilates, often due to panic attacks, severe pain, asthma attacks, or other stressful events, they expel more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than usual from their lungs. This excessive exhalation of CO₂ causes a corresponding drop in the level of carbonic acid in the blood, leading to elevated blood pH. Homeostatic mechanisms, including renal regulation, attempt to maintain a balance, but if hyperventilation persists, it can significantly alter the acid-base balance, resulting in respiratory alkalosis