What are the most common causes of respiratory alkalosis?

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when there is an increase in the pH of the blood due to decreased levels of carbon dioxide, often caused by hyperventilation. Among the common causes of respiratory alkalosis, hyperventilation is particularly significant as it results in the excessive expulsion of carbon dioxide from the body.

Factors such as pain, anxiety, and fever can trigger hyperventilation. For instance, when a person experiences pain, their stress response may lead them to breathe faster and more deeply. Similarly, anxiety or panic attacks can prompt rapid breathing as a physiological response to perceived danger or stress. Fever can also increase the body’s metabolic rate, leading to a rise in breathing rate as the body attempts to expel carbon dioxide more rapidly. These conditions collectively contribute to the development of respiratory alkalosis by lowering carbon dioxide levels in the blood, ultimately resulting in an increase in pH.

In contrast, hypoventilation, cardiac arrest, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation typically lead to respiratory acidosis rather than alkalosis. Hypoventilation results in carbon dioxide retention, which decreases pH. Cardiac arrest stops effective ventilation, leading to increased carbon dioxide, while chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often results in impaired gas exchange that